1. songs or melodies that get stuck in one’s head and repeat involuntarily
Usage: informal; plural of earworm
2. parasitic worms that infest the ears of corn and other crops
Usage: agricultural; entomology

Examples

• Pop songs often become earworms that play in your head all day.
• She couldn’t get rid of the earworms from the commercial jingle.
• Catchy melodies are more likely to turn into persistent earworms.
• The farmer sprayed pesticide to control the earworms damaging his corn.
• Earworms can cause significant crop losses if left untreated.
• Those annoying earworms kept me awake with their repetitive tune.