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Glite Dictionary
spiny-headed worm

spiny-headed worm

9.9
A parasite that lives in animal intestines and can pull its spiny head back to hold on
  • noun
  • /ˈspaɪniˈhɛdɪd wɜrm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : gusano con cabeza espinosa
  • The veterinarian discovered a spiny-headed worm infection in the dog's intestines.

Examples

  • The retractable proboscis is a distinctive feature of every spiny-headed worm.

  • Many fish are hosts for the spiny-headed worm.

  • Certain species of fish can be susceptible to spiny-headed worm parasites.

  • The spiny-headed worm can cause serious health issues.

  • The veterinarian discovered a spiny-headed worm infection in the dog's intestines.

  • Certain species of fish can be susceptible to spiny-headed worm parasites.

  • Many fish are hosts for the spiny-headed worm.

Synonyms

helminth
vsspiny-headed worm
  • Specialized
1 9.8

A worm that lives inside the body of animals or people and causes illness

is a specific kind with a retractable spiny proboscis for attachment
parasitic worm
vsspiny-headed worm
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A small animal that lives inside another animal and takes its food, often causing sickness

is a specific parasite type with a retractable spiny proboscis for attachment
acanthocephalan
vsspiny-headed worm
  • Specialized
9.9

A parasitic worm with a spiny head tube that attaches in the intestines of animals like fish and birds

is the common name for these organisms rather than the scientific label
Acanthocephala
vsspiny-headed worm
  • Specialized
9.9

Wormlike parasites with spines that live in animal intestines

is a name for individual organisms rather than the whole taxonomic group

Surface Forms

spiny-headed worm singular
spiny-headed worms plural

Morphology

spiny-headed + worm

This is a straightforward descriptive compound: 'spiny-headed' means having spines on the head and 'worm' names the animal, so the overall meaning ('a worm with spines on its head') is directly inferable from the parts. Descriptive adjective+noun compounds like this follow regular composition patterns (common across languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can understand it.

Etymology

Spiny-headed worm comes from the worm's real spiny head: it can push out a long 'nose' covered in small hooked spines to hold on inside an animal's gut. So the name points to a parasite that lives in the gut and uses its spiny head to attach.