worms

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of worm.

   After the rain, dozens of worms wriggled across the sidewalk.

   The gardener turned the compost and found it teeming with worms.

   Note

   A regular plural that shares its spelling with the present-tense verb: worms in the compost is a noun, but she worms her way in is a verb. The plural covers every meaning of worm. It can name earthworms, or flatworms, roundworms and acorn worms grouped loosely together. In archaic writing it means dragons and sea serpents, and it can also name contemptible, devious people.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of worm.

   The puppy worms its way under the blanket whenever it gets cold.

   She always worms the truth out of witnesses before anyone else can.

   Note

   The verb form rarely travels alone. It usually takes a possessive way (worms its way under, worms her way into favor) or out of plus a source (worms a secret out of someone). The possessive follows the subject, so he worms his way. Without an object it means moving with the body dragging the ground. The figurative senses of devious progress or coaxed information need those objects.

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