wormhole

noun

worm·​hole ˈwərm-ˌhōl How to pronounce wormhole (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over the last several years companies (Gucci, Prada, H&M, Dove, et al.) have fallen down the wormhole of cultural insensitivity. Doug Melville, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024 Evil Unleashed The intrigue: The showcase at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds features six haunts, including an asylum, mansion and wormhole. Troy Smith, Axios, 13 Sep. 2024 Step 2: Inspect the Tubers While cleaning the sweet potatoes, check for major signs of damage, such as wormholes, large cuts, lots of bruising, or mushy spots. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2024 After American astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) enters a wormhole, he accidentally becomes embroiled in an epic war between a motley crew aboard a living spaceship called Moya and a militaristic group chasing after them, ironically named the Peacekeepers. Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wormhole 

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wormhole was in 1593

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Cite this Entry

“Wormhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wormhole. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wormhole

noun
worm·​hole ˈwərm-ˌhōl How to pronounce wormhole (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on wormhole

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