What does "shipworm" mean?

Any of several wormlike marine molluscs (not true worms) of the family Teredinidae that bore through the wooden hulls of ships and other woody material immersed in salt water; specifically, the naval shipworm or turu (Teredo navalis), the type species of the genus Teredo.

What is a synonym for "shipworm"?

Common synonyms include: teredinid, teredine, teredo, termite of the sea.

Shipworm

//ˈʃɪpwɜːm// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1
Any of several wormlike marine molluscs (not true worms) of the family Teredinidae that bore through the wooden hulls of ships and other woody material immersed in salt water; specifically, the naval shipworm or turu (Teredo navalis), the type species of the genus Teredo.
"Ship-VVorms [running head] […] It is reported that thoſe VVorms vvhich get into a Ships bottom in the ſalt vvater, vvill dye in the freſh vvater; and that the freſh vvater VVorms vvill dye in ſalt vvater: but in brackiſh vvater both ſorts vvill increaſe prodigiouſly."
2
wormlike marine bivalve that bores into wooden piers and ships by means of drill-like shells wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

teredinid teredine teredo termite of the sea

Example

More examples

"Dan Distel is a shipworm biologist."

Etymology

From ship + worm.

More for "shipworm"

Synonyms Sentences Pronunciation Translate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation Browse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.