worm
gb/wˈɚm/ us/wˈɚm/
A2
English
~ 9200
giliszta, féreg, bélféreg, számítógépes féreg, átfurakodik, átpréseli magát, befurakodik, beférkőzik, féregtelenít, kiszed
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
a/an [adjective] worm
I found a worm in the garden while I was digging.
Ásás közben találtam egy gilisztát a kertben.
Birds were pulling worms out of the wet ground after the rain.
A madarak eső után gilisztákat húzgáltak ki a nedves földből.
The child picked up the worm carefully and put it back in the soil.
Compost heaps are full of worms that help break down food scraps.
Learner examples
There is a worm on the ground.
Egy giliszta van a földön.
The bird eats a worm every morning.
A madár minden reggel megeszik egy gilisztát.
She sees many worms in the wet soil.
We use worms to help make compost.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes call any small, long animal a "worm", including caterpillars or centipedes. In English, a worm usually has no legs and a very simple body, while caterpillars and centipedes have many legs.
Meaning
Small soft-bodied soil animal
Collocations
earthworm
|worms in the soil
|garden worms
|a fat worm
|worms in the compost
Synonyms
earthworm (More specific; refers to the common brown worm that lives in soil.)
Themes
animals
|nature
|science
Definition
A small, soft animal with no legs that lives in the ground, like an earthworm.
A small, soft-bodied, legless invertebrate, especially one that lives in soil such as an earthworm.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] has worms
The vet said the puppy has worms and needs treatment.
Az állatorvos azt mondta, hogy a kölyökkutya férges, és kezelni kell.
Intestinal worms can cause serious health problems if they are not treated.
A bélférgek súlyos egészségügyi problémákat okozhatnak, ha nem kezelik őket.
Farmers regularly check their sheep for worms.
The medicine is used to kill worms in the child's intestines.
Learner examples
The dog has worms.
A kutyának férgei vannak.
Worms in the body can make you sick.
A testben élő férgek megbetegíthetnek.
The doctor gives him pills for worms.
They check the cow for worms every year.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the simple garden animal and say things like "I have a worm". In this medical sense, English almost always uses the plural: "I have worms" or "The dog has worms."
Meaning
Parasitic worm in body
Collocations
have worms
|intestinal worms
|parasitic worms
|worm infection
|treat worms
|deworming tablets
Synonyms
parasite (More general; not all parasites are worms, but worms in the body are a kind of parasite.)
Themes
health
|animals
|medicine
Definition
A small animal that lives inside the body of a person or animal and can make them sick, usually called "worms".
A parasitic worm that lives inside the body of humans or animals, often causing illness, usually referred to in the plural as worms.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
3
féreg
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a (little) worm
He’s such a worm, always agreeing with whoever is in power.
Igazi féreg: mindig azzal ért egyet, aki hatalmon van.
Don’t be a worm—stand up for yourself.
Ne légy gyáva féreg – állj ki magadért!
She called him a worm for lying to his friends.
I felt like a worm after I betrayed their trust.
Learner examples
She thinks he is a worm because he never tells the truth.
Szerinte a férfi egy féreg, mert soha nem mond igazat.
He acts like a worm and never says what he really thinks.
Úgy viselkedik, mint egy féreg, és soha nem mondja ki, amit valójában gondol.
They called him a worm when he ran away.
I feel like a worm when I lie to my friends.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "worm" for any bad person. In this sense it usually suggests someone weak, pathetic, or lacking courage, rather than someone who is strong and dangerous.
Meaning
Weak or contemptible person
Collocations
a little worm
|you worm
|feel like a worm
|treat [someone] like a worm
Synonyms
coward (Focuses more on fear and lack of courage, while "worm" also suggests low moral character and a lack of self-respect.)
Antonyms
hero (A hero is brave and admired, which is the opposite of the weak, despised image of a "worm".)
Themes
insults
|personality
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An insult for a person who is very weak, afraid, or not respected.
An insulting word for someone considered very weak, cowardly, or lacking in moral character.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
4
féreg
B2
Usage pattern:
a [type of] computer worm
The company’s network was shut down by a fast-spreading computer worm.
A vállalat hálózatát egy gyorsan terjedő számítógépes féreg bénította meg.
This security update fixes a vulnerability that allowed a worm to infect servers.
Ez a biztonsági frissítés kijavít egy biztonsági rést, amely lehetővé tette, hogy egy féreg megfertőzze a szervereket.
An email worm can spread when people open infected attachments.
The IT team isolated the infected machines to stop the worm.
Learner examples
A computer worm can move to many computers very fast.
Egy számítógépes féreg nagyon gyorsan sok számítógépre átjuthat.
They used antivirus software to remove the worm.
Vírusirtó szoftverrel távolították el a férget.
The worm entered the system through an email attachment.
He read an article about a new internet worm.
Common mistake:
Learners often use "virus" for all harmful programs. In computing, a "worm" is a special type of malware that spreads itself over networks without user action, while a "virus" usually needs the user to run an infected file.
Meaning
Self-spreading malicious computer program
Collocations
computer worm
|email worm
|internet worm
|worm infection
|spread like a worm
|detect a worm
Synonyms
malware (More general; a worm is one specific kind of malware that spreads itself across networks.)
Antonyms
antivirus (Antivirus software is designed to detect and stop worms and other malware, serving the opposite function.)
Themes
technology
|security
Definition
A bad computer program that makes many copies of itself and moves from one computer to another by itself.
A type of malicious software that spreads itself automatically from one computer or network to another, often causing damage or allowing unauthorized access.
VERB
B2
5
átfurakodik
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] worms [themselves/something] through [something]
She wormed her way through the crowd to get to the front of the stage.
Átfurakodott a tömegen, hogy a színpad elé jusson.
The child wormed under the fence to reach the neighbor’s yard.
A gyerek átpréselte magát a kerítés alatt, hogy átjusson a szomszéd udvarába.
He wormed himself between the two cars to check the license plate.
The snake wormed along the narrow crack in the rock.
Learner examples
He wormed his way through the small hole.
Átpréselte magát a kis lyukon.
She wormed through the people on the train.
Átfurakodott az emberek között a vonaton.
The cat wormed under the door.
They wormed their way between the chairs.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "worm" instead of more common verbs like "push" or "move" in normal situations. "Worm" is used when movement is slow and difficult, usually through something tight or crowded.
Meaning
Move by twisting through space
Collocations
worm your way through the crowd
|worm his way between the seats
|worm its way through the tunnel
|worm forward
|worm along the ground
Synonyms
wriggle (Emphasizes quick, small twisting movements; "worm" focuses more on slow movement through a tight space.)
Antonyms
stride (To stride is to walk with long, confident steps in open space, the opposite of slowly worming through something tight.)
Themes
movement
|daily_life
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move slowly through a small or crowded space by turning your body again and again.
To move slowly and with difficulty by twisting and pushing, especially through a narrow or crowded space.
VERB
C1
6
befurakodik
B2
beférkőzik
C1
Usage pattern:
worm [yourself] into [a place/a group/someone’s life]
He somehow wormed his way into the inner circle of the organization.
Valahogy befurakodott a szervezet belső körébe.
She wormed her way into their trust and then stole their money.
Beférkőzött a bizalmukba, aztán ellopta a pénzüket.
They tried to worm their way into the project team by flattering the manager.
Over time, he wormed his way into her family’s good books.
Learner examples
He wormed his way into the group at work.
Befurakodott a munkahelyi csoportba.
She wormed her way into his life and then hurt him.
Befurakodott az életébe, aztán megbántotta.
They wormed their way into the club by being very friendly.
He wormed his way into her trust and then lied.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this expression in positive situations. In English, "worm your way into" almost always sounds negative or critical and suggests sneaky or dishonest behavior.
Meaning
Gain favor or access insincerely
Collocations
worm your way into her life
|worm his way into the company
|worm their way into positions of power
|worm your way into someone’s good books
Synonyms
ingratiate yourself (More formal and neutral; "worm your way" is more negative and suggests sneaky or dishonest behavior.)
Antonyms
keep your distance (To avoid getting close to someone, the opposite of trying to worm your way into their life or group.)
Themes
relationships
|work
|behavior
Definition
To slowly get into a group, place, or someone’s life by using clever or not very honest behavior.
To gradually obtain a desired position, relationship, or advantage by using indirect, often insincere or manipulative behavior.
VERB
C1
7
féregtelenít
B2
Usage pattern:
worm [an animal]
You should worm your dog every three months.
Háromhavonta féregteleníteni kellene a kutyádat.
The vet showed us how often we need to worm the kittens.
Az állatorvos megmutatta, milyen gyakran kell féregtelenítenünk a kiscicákat.
Farmers worm their cattle to prevent serious infections.
If you don’t worm your pets regularly, they can become very sick.
Learner examples
We must worm the dog this month.
Ebben a hónapban féregtelenítenünk kell a kutyát.
The vet told us to worm our cat twice a year.
Az állatorvos azt mondta, hogy évente kétszer kell féregtelenítenünk a macskánkat.
They forgot to worm their horses last summer.
You should worm your pets to keep them healthy.
Common mistake:
Some learners think this verb means "to give worms" to an animal because of the direct object. In fact, it means to remove worms by giving medicine.
Meaning
Remove worms from an animal
Collocations
worm the dog
|worm the horse
|worm your pets regularly
|need to be wormed
|worming schedule
Synonyms
deworm (More technical and explicit; often used in veterinary and medical contexts with the same meaning.)
Themes
animals
|health
|agriculture
Definition
To give a pet or farm animal medicine so that worms inside its body are killed and removed.
To give an animal medicine that removes parasitic worms from its body.
VERB
C1
8
kiszed
B2
Usage pattern:
worm [information] out of [someone]
The reporter managed to worm a few details out of the reluctant witness.
A riporternek sikerült kiszednie néhány részletet a vonakodó tanúból.
I finally wormed the truth out of him after an hour of questions.
Egyórás kérdezősködés után végül sikerült kiszednem belőle az igazságot.
She tried to worm information out of me about the surprise party.
No one could worm any secrets out of her.
Learner examples
She wormed the truth out of her son.
Kiszedte a fiából az igazságot.
They tried to worm information out of the worker.
Megpróbáltak információt kiszedni a dolgozóból.
He could not worm any answers out of them.
I do not want you to worm secrets out of me.
Common mistake:
Learners may drop the preposition and say "worm information him". In this sense, English normally uses the pattern "worm [something] out of [someone]".
Meaning
Extract information by persistence
Collocations
worm the truth out of him
|worm information out of her
|trying to worm details out of them
|couldn’t worm any answers out of him
Synonyms
extract (More formal and neutral; "worm out of" suggests the process is slow, difficult, and sometimes a bit sneaky.)
Antonyms
keep quiet (To refuse to give information, the opposite of someone allowing you to worm information out of them.)
Themes
communication
|relationships
|crime
Definition
To slowly get information or the truth from someone by asking again and again.
To obtain information, a secret, or the truth from someone by asking many careful questions or by slowly persuading them.
Grammar
Dictionary form
worm
IPA
GB/wˈɚm/
US/wˈɚm/
Syllables & stress
worm (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (worm)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: worm
- Plural: worm, worms
Verb
- Base: worm
- 3rd Person Singular: worms
- Present Participle: worming
- Past: wormed
Word family
Forms
worms
noun
worming
verb
wormed
verb
Related words
earthworm
noun
bookworm
noun
wormy
adjective
Advanced or less common
tapeworm
noun
Expressions
open a can of worms
1/ˈoʊpən ə kən əv wˈɚmz/
idiom
Create many new problems
To start talking about or changing something that then causes many new problems.
Examples
- Changing that rule will open a real can of worms.
- The investigation opened a can of worms inside the company.
- He didn’t want to open a can of worms by asking about past mistakes.
the worm has turned
1/ðə wˈɚm hˈæz tˈɚnd/
idiom
literary
Previously weak person fights back
Someone who was quiet and weak has now started to fight back or say no.
Examples
- After years of being bullied, the worm has turned and he’s standing up for himself.
- When the workers finally went on strike, management knew the worm had turned.
- Her calm email showed that the worm had turned and she would not accept bad treatment anymore.
worm your way into
1/wˈɚm jˈʊɹ wˈeɪ ˈɪntu/
idiom
Gain access or influence gradually
To slowly and often dishonestly become part of a group, place, or someone’s life.
Examples
- He wormed his way into the board of directors by flattering the right people.
- She slowly wormed her way into their family and became hard to remove.
- Scammers often worm their way into online communities before asking for money.
worm your way out of
1/wˈɚm jˈʊɹ wˈeɪ ˈaʊt əv/
idiom
Avoid a duty by excuses
To avoid doing something you should do by making excuses or using clever talk.
Examples
- He always worms his way out of doing the dishes.
- She tried to worm her way out of the contract at the last minute.
- Don’t let him worm his way out of paying what he owes.
the early bird catches the worm
1/ðə ˈɚli bˈɚd kˈæt͡ʃɪz ðə wˈɚm/
idiom
Success comes to those who start early
People who start work or act before others are more likely to get what they want.
Examples
- He likes to get to the market at 6 a.m., saying the early bird catches the worm.
- If you want a good seat, remember that the early bird catches the worm.
- She always arrives early to job fairs because the early bird catches the worm.
the early bird catches the worm
2/ðə ˈɚli bˈɚd kˈæt͡ʃɪz ðə wˈɚm/
idiom
Success from starting early
If you start something early, you have an advantage and are more likely to succeed.
Examples
- We should get to the market before 7—the early bird catches the worm.
- She always arrives first; she believes the early bird catches the worm.