# wormhole

/ˈwɝmˌhɔɫ/ (US) · /wˈɜːmhəʊl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wormhole
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. physics/science fiction

noun · CEFR B2

a theoretical shortcut through space that could allow people to travel to distant stars very quickly.

For teachers: a hypothetical topological feature of spacetime that would fundamentally act as a shortcut, connecting two distant points.

- In the movie, the spaceship travels through a wormhole to reach another galaxy in seconds.
- Theoretical physicists continue to debate whether a stable wormhole could actually exist without collapsing under its own gravitational forces.

### 2. hole made by a worm

noun · CEFR B2

a small hole in wood, fruit, or old books made by a worm or insect.

For teachers: a small tunnel or cavity burrowed into a substance, such as timber or fruit, by a larva or worm.

- The antique table was full of tiny wormholes, showing its great age.
- The presence of numerous wormholes in the structural beams suggested a long-standing infestation that had compromised the integrity of the roof.

### 3. computing/programming

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Slang

a specific place in a computer program where a programmer can change how the software works.

For teachers: a location in a monitor or system program containing the address of a routine, allowing for the substitution of alternative functionality.

- The developer used a wormhole to redirect the program to a custom debugging routine.
- By exploiting a wormhole in the legacy monitor code, the engineers were able to patch the system without a full reboot.

### 4. to make holes

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to make many small holes or tunnels in something.

For teachers: to create a porous or permeable structure through the formation of small holes or tunnels.

- Over the centuries, water had wormholed the soft limestone until it was full of gaps.
- The acid rain had effectively wormholed the surface of the monument, leaving the marble vulnerable to further erosion.

## Examples

- The theory suggests that a wormhole could allow travel to another galaxy.
- Security experts discovered a wormhole in the software that allowed hackers to access the internal network without a password.
- While the mathematics of a wormhole remains a subject of intense debate among physicists, the concept has become a staple of science fiction, representing the ultimate shortcut through the fabric of reality.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.