Phrase guide

Gordian worm

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A horsehair worm (Nematomorpha) that fatally parasitizes insects and crustacea in its larval stage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Because it sometimes ties itself into a knot; see Gordian knot.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Māori: engaio — a parasitic worm infesting crustaceons etc
  • Māori: ngaio — a parasitic worm infesting crustaceons etc
  • Polish: nitnikowiec — a parasitic worm infesting crustaceons etc
  • Polish: nitkowiec — a parasitic worm infesting crustaceons etc
  • Polish: drucieniec — a parasitic worm infesting crustaceons etc