noun
- marine mollusks that bore into and damage wooden ships and structures underwater
Usage: nautical; plural form
Examples
- The old pier was severely damaged by shipworms over the years.
- Shipworms can destroy wooden hulls if left untreated.
- The marine biologist studied how shipworms tunnel through timber.
- Copper sheathing was used to protect ships from shipworms.
- The dock needed replacement due to extensive shipworm damage.
- Shipworms are actually mollusks, not true worms.