mealworm

noun

meal·​worm ˈmēl-ˌwərm How to pronounce mealworm (audio)
: the larva of a darkling beetle (especially genus Tenebrio) that infests grain products but is often raised as food for insectivorous animals, for laboratory use, or as fishing bait

Examples of mealworm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Fantastic creatures The elusive creature pointed its long snout skyward, pausing a moment after eating some mealworms. Katie Hunt, CNN, 1 Feb. 2025 By Issy Ronald |, CNN Momentarily pausing after eating some mealworms, an elusive shrew’s long snout pointed skywards, unaware of the historic portrait that had just been captured. Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025 Are live mealworms more (or less) likely to spread diseases amongst wild birds? Grrlscientist, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 Packaged suet, cakes of beef fat mixed with seeds, corn meal, peanuts, mealworms, and other avian delicacies, is available commercially. George Petras, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for mealworm 

Word History

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mealworm was in 1658

Dictionary Entries Near mealworm

Cite this Entry

“Mealworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mealworm. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

mealworm

noun
meal·​worm -ˌwərm How to pronounce mealworm (audio)
: any of various small brownish larvae of various beetles that live in grain products and are often raised as food for insect-eating animals or as bait

More from Merriam-Webster on mealworm

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