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cankerworm

can·ker·worm
C c

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [kang-ker-wurm]
    • /ˈkæŋ kərˌwɜrm/
    • /ˈkæŋkəwɜːm/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kang-ker-wurm]
    • /ˈkæŋ kərˌwɜrm/

Definitions of cankerworm word

  • noun cankerworm the larva of either of two geometrid moths, Paleacrita vernata or Alsophila pometaria, which feed on and destroy fruit and shade trees in North America 3
  • noun cankerworm any of several larvae of geometrid moths that are harmful to fruit and shade trees, esp. the spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata) that feeds on fruit and foliage 3
  • noun cankerworm the striped, green caterpillar of any of several geometrid moths: a foliage pest of various fruit and shade trees, as Paleacrita vernata (spring cankerworm) and Alsophila pometaria (fall cankerworm) 1
  • noun cankerworm The caterpillar of a North American moth that has wingless females. Cankerworms consume the buds and leaves of trees and can be a major pest. 1
  • noun cankerworm Either of two caterpillars, the larvae of geometrid moths, that are destructive to fruit, buds and leaves. 0
  • noun cankerworm (figuratively) A corrupting or destructive force. 0

Information block about the term

Origin of cankerworm

First appearance:

before 1520
One of the 28% oldest English words
First recorded in 1520-30; canker + worm

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Cankerworm

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

cankerworm popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 51% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

cankerworm usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Top questions with cankerworm

  • what is a cankerworm?

See also

Matching words

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