hookworm: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “hookworm” mean?
A small parasitic roundworm that infects the intestines of humans and animals, often entering through the skin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small parasitic roundworm that infects the intestines of humans and animals, often entering through the skin.
The disease caused by hookworm infection, often associated with anaemia, malnutrition, and developmental issues, historically prevalent in areas with poor sanitation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'hookworm' identically.
Connotations
In both varieties, it primarily carries medical/parasitological connotations. Historically associated with poverty and poor sanitation in the American South and other tropical/subtropical regions.
Frequency
Similar low frequency in both dialects, used almost exclusively in medical, veterinary, or public health contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hookworm” in a Sentence
The patient has hookworm.They were infected with hookworm.Hookworm causes anaemia.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hookworm” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The dog was hookwormed by the vet.
- We need to hookworm the entire litter.
American English
- The puppy was treated for hookworm.
- The shelter dewormed for hookworm.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- A hookworm infestation.
- Hookworm prevalence data.
American English
- Hookworm infection rates.
- A hookworm treatment program.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in pharmaceutical development or public health funding contexts.
Academic
Common in parasitology, tropical medicine, public health, and epidemiology papers.
Everyday
Very rare unless discussing medical history, travel health, or veterinary issues.
Technical
Standard term in medical, veterinary, and parasitology texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hookworm”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hookworm”
- Confusing it with 'pinworm' or 'tapeworm'. Using it as a general term for any intestinal worm.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily through skin contact with soil contaminated with hookworm larvae, often by walking barefoot.
Historically, it was endemic in parts of the southeastern US. Today, it is rare in developed nations due to sanitation, but cases occur via travel or from pets.
Yes, effectively with anthelmintic medications like albendazole or mebendazole.
Hookworm is an intestinal parasitic worm. Ringworm is not a worm at all; it's a fungal skin infection.
A small parasitic roundworm that infects the intestines of humans and animals, often entering through the skin.
Hookworm is usually technical/medical in register.
Hookworm: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʊk.wɜːm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʊk.wɝːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly; occasionally used metaphorically to describe something draining or parasitic, e.g., 'The corruption was a hookworm on the economy.'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a worm with a tiny HOOK on its mouth that it uses to latch onto your intestine.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often a metaphor for a hidden, draining, or impoverishing force ('the hookworm of poverty').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary public health concern associated with chronic hookworm infection?