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Glite Dictionary
family Teredinidae

family Teredinidae

9.9
Sea animals that make holes in and damage wood in the sea, often called shipworms
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli tɛrəˈdɪnɪdeɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia Teredinidae
  • The family Teredinidae, commonly called shipworms, can cause significant damage to submerged wooden structures.

Examples

  • Many species within the family Teredinidae are notorious for damaging wooden vessels and piers.

  • Shipbuilders developed new treatments to protect wood from organisms such as the family Teredinidae.

  • Marine biologists discovered a new member of the family Teredinidae off the coast of Indonesia.

  • The family Teredinidae includes many species of shipworms.

  • Did you know that the family Teredinidae can damage wooden structures?

  • Researchers are studying the family Teredinidae to better understand their impact on marine ecosystems.

  • Wooden boats are particularly vulnerable to attacks from the family Teredinidae, which bore into the wood.

Synonyms

Teredinidae
vsfamily Teredinidae
  • Specialized
9.9

Sea animals like worms that bore into and destroy wood on ships and piers

cause damage to submerged wood but not always complete destruction

Surface Forms

family Teredinidae singular
families Teredinidae plural

Morphology

family + Teredinidae

The phrase follows a regular taxonomic composition: 'family' + a taxon name signals a biological grouping, so learners who know 'family' will infer it refers to a family of organisms called Teredinidae. However, 'Teredinidae' is a specialised Latin name with no transparent lexical meaning for B1 learners, so the precise referent (shipworms, marine bivalve mollusks) cannot be derived without prior knowledge of the name.

Etymology

Family Teredinidae comes from the old word teredo, meaning 'borer'. These small, worm-like sea animals bore into wood and can ruin ships and piers, so the name now refers to the group of wood-eating sea creatures.