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

An obsessive curiosity can send you down a wormhole. —USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024

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

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