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bookworm - 5 dictionary results

book⋅worm

[book-wurm]
–noun
1. a person devoted to reading or studying.
2. any of various insects that feed on books, esp. a booklouse.

Origin:
1590–1600; book + worm
book·worm   (bŏŏk'wûrm')   
n.  
  1. One who spends much time reading or studying.
  2. Any of various insects, especially booklice and silverfish, that infest books and feed on the paste in the bindings.

Bookworm

Book"worm`\, n. 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any larva of a beetle or moth, which is injurious to books. Many species are known.

2. A student closely attached to books or addicted to study; a reader without appreciation.

I wanted but a black gown and a salary to be as mere a bookworm as any there. --Pope.
Language Translation for : bookworm
Spanish: ratón de biblioteca,
German: der Bücherwurm,
Japanese: 本の虫

bookworm 
1599 (of people), 1855 of insects or maggots; there is no single species known by this name, which is applied to the anolium beetle, silverfishes, and book lice.

bookworm

any insect (e.g., moths, beetles) whose larval (or adult) forms injure books by gnawing the binding and piercing the pages with small holes. No single species may properly be called the bookworm because a large number of insects feed upon dry, starchy material or paper and may damage books

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