inchworm

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UK/ˈɪnt͡ʃ.wɜːm/US/ˈɪnt͡ʃ.wɚm/

noun

The larva of a moth of the family Geometridae.

Similar
geometridloopermeasuring wormspanworm
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

nouninchworm (plural inchworms)

plural inchworms

  1. The larva of a moth of the family Geometridae.
verbinchworm (third-person singular simple present inchworms, present participle inchworming, simple past and past participle inchwormed)

present singular third person inchworms · participle present inchworming · participle past inchwormed · past inchwormed

  1. idiomaticinformalintransitiveTo move in a looping fashion, like an inchworm.
  2. idiomaticinformalintransitiveTo crawl or creep slowly.

Synonyms & antonyms

larva

Similar
geometridloopermeasuring wormspanworm

nounsmall hairless caterpillar having legs on only its front and rear segments; mostly larvae of moths of the family Geometridae

Similar
measuring wormlooper
Broader
caterpillar
Also see
geometridloopermeasuring worm

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From inch + worm. So called because their gradual movement seems to be measuring the ground; compare measuring worm.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

inchworm. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inchworm

MLA

“inchworm.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inchworm. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inchworm,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inchworm.

Source: inchworm on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.