vermicular

adjective

ver·mic·u·lar (ˌ)vər-ˈmi-kyə-lər

: resembling a worm in form or motion

: vermiculate

: of, relating to, or caused by worms

Did you know?

What does the word vermicular have in common with the pasta on your plate? If you're eating vermicelli (a spaghetti-like pasta made in long thin strings) the answer is vermis, a Latin noun meaning "worm." If you dig deep enough, you'll find that vermis is the root underlying not only vermicular and vermicelli, but also vermiculate, which can mean either "full of worms" or "tortuous." It is also the source of vermin and worm, both of which in their earliest usage referred, despite their vermicular etymology, to any creeping or crawling creature, including wingless insects and reptiles.

Examples of vermicular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The miniature cake’s yellow, spongy exterior had been replaced by a dull brown mass of hardened vermicular coils. —

Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Oct. 2020 Milk effect: Vaguely vermicular, studded with wiggly filaments. —

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Feb. 2022 Eventually Sam turned to wiser sources for contemplations about the nature of human (or vermicular) existence. —

Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vermicular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin vermiculāris, from Latin vermiculus "insect larva, grub" (from vermis "worm" + -culus, diminutive suffix) + -āris -ar — more at worm entry 1

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of vermicular was in 1672

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