tapeworm

noun

tape·​worm ˈtāp-ˌwərm How to pronounce tapeworm (audio)
: any of a class (Cestoda) of bilaterally symmetrical flatworms that are parasitic as adults in the intestines of vertebrates including humans and consist of a scolex usually with suckers or hooks followed posteriorly by an undifferentiated neck region from which buds off an often long chain of proglottids
In most instances, adult tapeworms have little visible effect on their hosts except in heavy infections, which may result in anemia, weight loss, and various secondary manifestations.—Burton J. Bogitsh et al.

called also cestode

Examples of tapeworm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These diseases include bacterial infections like campylobacter and salmonella and parasitic infections like cryptosporidium, giardia and tapeworm. Symptoms can include abdominal cramping, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. —Katia Hetter, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 However, much of the DNA also came from parasites transmitted via raw or undercooked fish and pork, such as the fish tapeworm Diphyllobothrium latum and the pork tapeworm Taenia solium. —Charles Choi, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2018 People can avoid getting intestinal tapeworms by cooking meat to safe temperatures. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 How undercooked bacon increased the man's risk tapeworm infection The larvae of Taenia solium is a tapeworm that most commonly infects pigs, but humans who inadvertently ingest undercooked pork can also be infected. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 Doctors believe that the tapeworm infection originated from his habit of eating undercooked bacon. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 The patient was admitted to the hospital, where an MRI and other tests confirmed these masses weren’t cysts, but were the larvae of tapeworms. —Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Fortunately, tapeworm infections can be easily treated with oral medications. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024 Unpleasant as the idea of a tapeworm is, the good news is that tapeworms typically don’t cause serious symptoms. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tapeworm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from its shape

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tapeworm was in 1706

Dictionary Entries Near tapeworm

tapetum

tapeworm

tapeworm plant

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Tapeworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tapeworm. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

tapeworm

noun
tape·​worm ˈtāp-ˌwərm How to pronounce tapeworm (audio)
: any of a group of flatworms that are parasites of the intestines of vertebrate animals including human beings

Medical Definition

tapeworm

noun
tape·​worm ˈtāp-ˌwərm How to pronounce tapeworm (audio)
: any of the class Cestoda of flatworms that are parasitic as adults in the digestive tract of vertebrates including humans and as larvae in a great variety of vertebrates and invertebrates, that typically consist of an attachment organ usually with suckers, grooves, hooks, or other devices for adhering to the host's intestine followed by an undifferentiated growth region from which buds off a chain of segments of which the anterior members are little more than blocks of tissue, the median members have fully developed organs of both sexes, and the posterior members are degenerated to egg-filled sacs, that have no digestive system and absorb food through the body wall, and that have a nervous system consisting of ganglia and commissures in the scolex and longitudinal cords extending the length of the strobila

called also cestode

see beef tapeworm, cat tapeworm, dog tapeworm, fish tapeworm, fringed tapeworm, pork tapeworm

More from Merriam-Webster on tapeworm

Nglish: Translation of tapeworm for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tapeworm

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