worm salamander
- noun
- /wɜrm ˈsæləmændər/
- Specialized
:
salamandra lombriz
- The worm salamander hides under logs in moist forests along the coast.
Examples
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We spotted a worm salamander during our hike in northern California.
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Biologists study the worm salamander because of its unique adaptation to underground life.
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The worm salamander is often found in moist habitats.
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Have you ever seen a worm salamander in the wild?
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The worm salamander is a fascinating creature that excels in its underground environment.
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While hiking near the river, we came across a rare worm salamander hidden among the damp soil.
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The slender body of the worm salamander allows it to navigate easily through narrow burrows.
Synonyms
12
4.9
A small animal like a lizard with a long tail that lives on land and returns to water to breed
A small thin animal with soft skin that lives in damp places on the Pacific coast of the United States
A small thin salamander with very short legs that lives in western North America
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is a straightforward descriptive noun-noun combination: a salamander that is worm-like in appearance. A B1 learner who knows 'worm' and 'salamander' can readily infer it denotes a small, slender salamander with worm-like features, so the meaning is compositional and non-idiomatic.
Etymology
Worm salamander gets its name from how it looks. It has a long, thin body like a worm, so people used that picture to name the salamander, which is why the name now means 'a small, thin salamander'.