Definition

A young form of certain moths that eats the buds of plants, often causing damage to trees and crops.

Example

The budworm is known to harm spruce trees by feeding on their new growth.

Conversation

Have you heard about the budworm problem in the garden?

Yeah, I read that they can really damage the plants.

Exactly! I’m worried they might ruin all the new flowers.

We should look into some natural ways to get rid of them.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Budworm → The word is formed from "bud" (from Old English *budda*, meaning a young shoot or sprout) and "worm" (from Old English *wyrm*, meaning serpent or worm). A budworm refers to a type of caterpillar that feeds on the buds of plants.

Memory Tip

Think of a young plant shoot ('bud') being eaten by a 'worm' — that's what a budworm does.

Visually Confused Words