tapeworm

[ teyp-wurm ]

noun

1. any of various flat or tapelike worms of the class Cestoidea, lacking an alimentary canal, and parasitic when adult in the alimentary canal of humans and other vertebrates: the larval and adult stages are usually in different hosts.

tapeworm

/ ˈteɪpˌwɜːm /

noun

1. any parasitic ribbon-like flatworm of the class Cestoda, having a body divided into many egg-producing segments and lacking a mouth and gut. The adults inhabit the intestines of vertebrates See also echinococcus taenia

tapeworm

/ tāp′wûrm′ /

1. See cestode

tapeworm

1. A worm with a long, flat body that can live in the human intestines as a parasite . Infestation with a tapeworm usually occurs as the result of eating raw meat or fish that contains the immature form of the worm.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tapeworm¹

First recorded in 1745–55; tape + worm

Example Sentences

Mosley has often pushed his body to extreme lengths to see the effects of his diets and also lived with tapeworms in his guts for six weeks for the BBC documentary “Infested! Living With Parasites.”

From Seattle Times

He also gained popularity for pulling stunts such as injecting snake venom into his own blood and eating tapeworms to see what impact they have on the body.

From BBC

If the cysts find a home in the small intestine, they can develop into adult tapeworms in about two months’ time.

From Los Angeles Times

A doctor without firsthand knowledge of Kennedy's medical history told the Times that details described in the deposition pointed to a pork tapeworm larva.

From Salon

A man in the US who complained of frequent migraines was found to have tapeworm eggs in his brain, likely linked to eating undercooked bacon.

From BBC