noun
flatworm
FLAT-wurm/ˈflætwɜːrm/
A soft-bodied worm with a flattened body.
The flatworm rests on a submerged leaf, its flattened body and two eyespots visible.
Etymology
The “flat” element names the animal’s flattened body. “Worm” once covered a broad range of crawling or slithering creatures; the compound distinguishes this group by its shape.
In context
Udonella is a tiny flatworm, part of a group known for simple body structures and highly specialized lifestyles.
More examples
- Some flatworms live as parasites inside other animals.
- Under the microscope, the flatworm's thin body looks almost transparent.
- A tapeworm is a flatworm that absorbs nutrients from its host.
Forms
flatworm · flatworms
Similar words
- worm
- A broader term that includes worms without flattened bodies.
- planarian
- A particular kind of flatworm, usually free-living rather than parasitic.