SQUIRM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does squirm mean? 

• SQUIRM (noun)
  The noun SQUIRM has 1 sense:

1. the act of wiggling

  Familiarity information: SQUIRM used as a noun is very rare.

• SQUIRM (verb)
  The verb SQUIRM has 1 sense:

1. to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

  Familiarity information: SQUIRM used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SQUIRM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of wiggling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

squirm; wiggle; wriggle

Hypernyms ("squirm" is a kind of...):

motility; motion; move; movement (a change of position that does not entail a change of location)

Derivation:

squirm (to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling))

• SQUIRM (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they squirm    ... he / she / it squirms   
Past simple: squirmed   
Past participle: squirmed   
-ing form: squirming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

To move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

squirm; twist; worm; wrestle; wriggle; writhe

Context example:

The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace

Hypernyms (to "squirm" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "squirm"):

wrench (make a sudden twisting motion)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

squirm (the act of wiggling)

squirmer (one who can't stay still (especially a child))

 Context examples 

I squirmed under the pain of it, and half lifted my head.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He was possessed by a madness to live, to thrill, "to squirm my little space in the cosmic dust whence I came," as he phrased it once himself.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But just then the dog, squirming and rubbing against the newcomer's legs, opened his mouth and barked.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) Extremity Movements, Lower (legs, knees, ankles, toes), e.g., lateral knee movement, foot tapping, heel dropping, foot squirming, inversion and eversion of foot.

(AIMS - Lower Extremities, NCI Thesaurus)

Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) Trunk Movements, Neck, shoulders, hips, e.g., rocking, twisting, squirming, pelvic gyrations.

(AIMS - Neck, Shoulders, Hips, NCI Thesaurus)

They developed a theory to predict precisely what neurons would control specific types of locomotion — the worm's ability to squirm and scoot around.

(Fundamental Rules for How The Brain Controls Movement, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

He whined placatingly, squirmed and wriggled to show his good will and intentions, and even ventured, as a bribe for peace, to lick Buck’s face with his warm wet tongue.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

The cub struggled and cursed and squirmed, but did not offer to bite.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He squirmed over the wet moss, saturating his clothes and chilling his body; but he was not aware of it, so great was his fever for food.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Any sacrifice that makes me lose one crawl or squirm is foolish,—and not only foolish, for it is a wrong against myself and a wicked thing.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)