Langimage
English

bookworm

|book/worm|

B2

🇺🇸

/ˈbʊkˌwɜrm/

🇬🇧

/ˈbʊkˌwɜːm/

avid reader

Etymology
Etymology Information

'bookworm' originates from the combination of 'book' and 'worm', where 'worm' metaphorically refers to someone who is deeply engaged in reading.

Historical Evolution

'bookworm' has been used since the 16th century to describe someone who is devoted to reading.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to actual insects that damaged books, but over time it evolved to describe avid readers.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a person who enjoys reading books and spends a lot of time doing it.

She's such a bookworm; she reads a new novel every week.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35