ascarid

A doctor points to a diagram of an ascarid during a health lesson.

Definition

Noun: - A parasitic roundworm of the family Ascarididae, especially the genus Ascaris, that infests the intestines of vertebrates, including humans. - Ascarids are large intestinal nematodes that can cause malnutrition and intestinal blockages in infected hosts.

Usage Examples

• (The kitten had a parasitic roundworm in its intestines.)
• (The roundworm's eggs contaminate the environment.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ascaris lumbricoides": The most common species of ascarid that infects humans, causing ascariasis.

  • Ascaris lumbricoides is the largest intestinal roundworm found in humans. (This specific ascarid species is a major cause of parasitic disease.)

• "Ascarid infestation": The condition of being infected with ascarids.

  • Children in tropical regions are especially vulnerable to ascarid infestation. (They are at higher risk of having these worms in their bodies.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ascaridiasis (n): the medical condition caused by infection with ascarids.

  • Ascaridiasis often presents with abdominal pain and coughing. (The disease results from ascarid worms in the body.)

• Ascaricide (n): a substance that kills ascarids.

  • The drug is an effective ascaricide against intestinal roundworms. (It kills ascarid parasites.)

Synonyms

• Roundworm: any nematode worm of the phylum Nematoda, often parasitic.
• Intestinal worm: a worm that lives in the intestines of a host.

Related Idioms