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flatworm
noun
flat·worm
ˈflat-ˌwərm
: any of a phylum (Platyhelminthes) of soft-bodied usually much flattened acoelomate worms (such as the planarians, flukes, and tapeworms)
called also platyhelminth
Examples of flatworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Severing a flatworm usually just results in two identical flatworms, but something appears to have gone awry in one individual, who returned with another head where his tail should have been.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2017
More emojis of plants, mollusks, flatworms, fungi and microorganisms could help spark new conversations about conservation and biodiversity, a new study argues.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2023
This giant invasive flatworm, a Diversibipalium 'blue,' made its way to a French territory off Africa.
—Lauren Sigfusson, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2018
Planarian and the Stem Cell Method Take the flatworm, for example, also known as Planarian and one of the most impressive examples of regeneration in the animal kingdom.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2023
That’s because another predator has moved in: New Guinea flatworms.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2023
This flatworm has truly astonishing powers of regeneration.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 15 July 2013
And instead of conducting an underwater band, Sebastian (played by Daveed Diggs) now kicks off a massive dance party, complete with toe-tapping sea turtles, spinning mimic octopuses, waving flatworms and ascending luminescent jellyfish.
—Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2023
At a school biology club meeting, Polyak cut up flatworms called planaria and watched their heads and tails regenerate.
—Adithi Ramakrishnan, Dallas News, 17 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flatworm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1874, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near flatworm
Cite this Entry
“Flatworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flatworm. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
flatworm
noun
flat·worm
-ˌwərm
: any of a phylum of simple worms (as planarians, flukes, or tapeworms) that have a soft flat body, lack a body cavity, and have bilateral symmetry
Medical Definition
flatworm
noun
flat·worm
ˈflat-ˌwərm
: any worm of the phylum Platyhelminthes : platyhelminth
especially
: turbellarian
More from Merriam-Webster on flatworm
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flatworm
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