wormhole

[ wurm-hohl ]

noun

1. a hole made by a burrowing or gnawing worm, as in timber, nuts, etc.
2. a theoretical passageway in space between a black hole and a white hole.

wormhole

/ ˈwɜːmˌhəʊl /

noun

1. a hole made by a worm in timber, plants, etc
2. physics a tunnel in the geometry of space–time postulated to connect different parts of the universe

wormhole

/ wûrm′hōl′ /

1. A hole made by a burrowing worm.
2. A theoretical distortion of space-time that would link points in space through a second set of paths, some of which could be shorter than the shortest path without the wormhole. It is not known whether workholes are possible.
3. See more at space-time

Derived Forms

• ˈwormˌholed, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wormhole¹

First recorded in 1585–95; worm + hole

Example Sentences

From cats and cucumbers to pimple popping and unboxings, the internet is awash with a vast array of videos to send people into a social media wormhole.

From BBC

Brilliant green light flashed as the wormhole opened.

From Literature

Paris led them down a mossy embankment into an abandoned train tunnel where he found a narrow passageway leading to something he called a “wormhole.”

From Literature

Surprise lurks around every corner and in every online wormhole.

From New York Times

The Hotline loves alternative history — as noted on the podcast, I could ride the wormhole all the way back to the South winning Gettysburg.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• side door