Definition

A type of worm that lives in the heart and blood vessels of dogs and other animals, usually spread by mosquito bites.

Example

The veterinarian diagnosed the dog with heartworm after a blood test.

Conversation

Did you hear about the dog that got sick from heartworm?

Yeah, it's so sad how common that is these days.

I didn't realize it could be so dangerous until I did some research.

Same here! We should make sure to get our pets checked regularly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Heartworm is formed from "heart" (from Old English "heorte", meaning the organ that pumps blood) and "worm" (from Old English "wyrm", meaning a serpent or a crawling creature). The term "heartworm" refers to a type of parasitic worm that infests the heart of animals, particularly dogs.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'heart' as the organ being affected and 'worm' as the creature that infests it — that's why heartworm refers to a worm that lives in the heart.

Visually Confused Words