flatworm
|flat-worm|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈflætˌwɜrm/
🇬🇧
/ˈflætˌwɜːm/
flattened invertebrate
Etymology
Etymology Information
'flatworm' originates from the combination of 'flat' and 'worm', where 'flat' refers to the flattened body structure and 'worm' refers to its worm-like appearance.
Historical Evolution
The term 'flatworm' has remained relatively unchanged in English, consistently referring to the same group of organisms.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a worm with a flat body', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a simple, soft-bodied invertebrate of the phylum Platyhelminthes, often parasitic, with a flattened body.
Flatworms are often found in marine environments.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/30 09:23