tapeworm

/'teipwə:m/

Thân thiện

A doctor shows a patient a diagram of a tapeworm during a checkup.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A parasitic flatworm that lives in the intestines of vertebrates, including humans. It has a long, ribbon-like body composed of segments and typically lacks a digestive system, absorbing nutrients directly from the host's gut.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • A tapeworm infection can cause abdominal pain and weight loss.
  • The veterinarian diagnosed the dog with a tapeworm.
  • Under the microscope, the tapeworm's segments were clearly visible.

Advanced Usage

• Medical/Parasitology Context: The term is used precisely to describe a member of the class Cestoda.
  • The life cycle of the tapeworm involves an intermediate host.
• Figurative Use (Informal): Sometimes used metaphorically to describe something that drains resources.
  • He referred to the corrupt official as a tapeworm on the economy.

Variants and Related Words

• Cestode (n): The scientific term for a tapeworm.
  • Cestodes are characterized by their segmented bodies.
• Proglottid (n): One of the segments that make up a tapeworm's body.
  • Each proglottid contains both male and female reproductive organs.

Synonyms

• Intestinal parasite: A general term for parasites living in the intestines.
• Flatworm: A broader biological category (phylum Platyhelminthes) that includes tapeworms.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Tapeworm infection / Infestation: The condition of having tapeworms.
  • Proper cooking of meat helps prevent tapeworm infection.
• Tapeworm segment: A part of the worm's body.
  • Tapeworm segments may be seen in the feces of an infected animal.

Học thuật

Noun

1. ribbonlike flatworms that are parasitic in the intestines of humans and other vertebrates

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cestode