wormhole

noun

worm·​hole ˈwərm-ˌhōl 

1

: a hole or passage burrowed by a worm

2

: a hypothetical structure of space-time envisioned as a tunnel connecting points that are separated in space and time

Did you know?

If you associate wormhole with quantum physics and sci-fi, you'll probably be surprised to learn that the word has been around since William Shakespeare's day. To Shakespeare, a "wormhole" was simply a hole made by a worm, but even the Bard subtly linked wormholes to the passage of time; for example, in the poem The Rape of Lucrece, he notes time's destructive power "to fill with worm-holes stately monuments." To modern astrophysicists, a wormhole isn't a tunnel wrought by a slimy invertebrate, but a theoretical tunnel between two black holes or other points in space-time, providing a shortcut between its end points.

Examples of wormhole in a Sentence

We found tiny wormholes in the potatoes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Not that the viewers enjoying a gorgeous day in front of a video wormhole seemed to mind. —James Poniewozik, New York Times, 24 May 2024

Outer space was a common theme throughout the show’s two acts, with the crowd going through wormholes and blots of color earlier in the night before touching down on new planets later on. —Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

wormhole

noun

worm·​hole ˈwərm-ˌhōl 

1

: a hole or passage made by a worm

2

: a hypothetical object that is thought of as a tunnel connecting points that are widely separated in space and time