noun · 2 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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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈʃɪpwɜːm/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈʃɪpwɝm/
1
noun
Meaning 1
Any of several wormlike marine molluscs (not true worms) of the family Teredinidae that bore through the wooden hulls of ships and other woody material immersed in salt water; specifically, the naval shipworm or turu (Teredo navalis), the type species of the genus Teredo.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: teredine, teredinid, termite of the sea
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
wormlike marine bivalve that bores into wooden piers and ships by means of drill-like shells
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
