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Glite Dictionary
velvet worm

velvet worm

9.8
A small soft animal with velvety skin that catches prey with sticky slime
  • noun
  • /ˈvɛlvɪt wɜrm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : gusano terciopelo
  • A velvet worm was discovered crawling across the rainforest floor during the expedition.
  • legs of the velvet worm

Examples

  • Some scientists study velvet worms to learn about evolution and ancient animal lineages.

  • The velvet worm is fascinating for its unusual way of catching prey with a sticky slime.

  • The velvet worm can be found in the rainforests of Madagascar.

  • Did you know that a velvet worm can regenerate its lost limbs?

  • The velvet worm uses its velvety skin to blend in with the forest floor.

  • In the jungle, we spotted a velvet worm crawling slowly over the leaves.

  • Scientists are studying the unique features of the velvet worm to understand its evolution.

Synonyms

worm
vsvelvet worm
299 1.0

A small soft animal without legs that lives in soil or water

is a specific tropical carnivorous invertebrate with arthropod and annelid traits
onychophoran
vsvelvet worm
  • Specialized
9.9

A small worm-like animal with soft skin and many short legs that eats insects

is the common name used in everyday speech rather than the scientific term
peripatus
vsvelvet worm
  • Specialized
9.9

A soft, wormlike animal with many short legs found in wet tropical forests

is the everyday label rather than this older or regional traditional name
Onychophora
vsvelvet worm
  • Specialized
9.9

Small wormlike animals called velvet worms that live in warm, damp places

is the common name for an individual organism rather than the whole group

Surface Forms

velvet worm singular
velvet worms plural

Morphology

velvet + worm

This is an endocentric compound where 'velvet' modifies 'worm' to indicate a worm with velvety (soft, smooth) skin; the basic meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. A B1 learner who knows 'velvet' and 'worm' can reasonably infer it refers to a worm-like animal with velvety skin, even if they would not know the specific biological details.

Etymology

The name velvet worm comes from the animal's look: it is shaped like a worm and has soft skin like velvet. That's why the name means 'a small animal that looks like a worm and has velvet-like skin'.