Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

wo rld view (world views ) also world-view N‑COUNT A person's world view is the way they see and understand the world, especially regarding issues such as politics, philosophy, and religion. □  Many artists express their world view in their work.

wo rld wa r ◆◇◇ (world wars ) N‑VAR A world war is a war that involves countries all over the world. □  Many senior citizens have been though two world wars. □  At the end of the Second World War, he was working as a docker.

wo rld-wea ry ADJ A world-weary person no longer feels excited or enthusiastic about anything.

world|wide ◆◇◇ /wɜː ^r ldwa I d/ also world-wide ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] If something exists or happens worldwide , it exists or happens throughout the world. □  His books have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. □  Worldwide, an enormous amount of research effort goes into military technology. ● ADJ [usu ADJ n] Worldwide is also an adjective. □  Today, doctors are fearing a worldwide epidemic. SYNONYMS worldwide ADV

global:…a global ban on nuclear testing.

international:…emergency aid from the international community.

universal:The desire to look attractive is universal.

Wo rld Wide We b N‑PROPER The World Wide Web is a computer system which links documents and pictures into a database that is stored in computers in many different parts of the world and that people everywhere can use. The abbreviations WWW and the Web are often used. [COMPUTING ]

worm /wɜː ^r m/ (worms , worming , wormed )

1 N‑COUNT A worm is a small animal with a long thin body, no bones and no legs.

2 N‑PLURAL If animals or people have worms , worms are living in their intestines.

3 VERB If you worm an animal, you give it medicine in order to kill the worms that are living in its intestines. □ [V n] I worm all my birds in early spring. □ [be V -ed] All adult dogs are routinely wormed at least every six months.

4 VERB If you say that someone is worming their way to success, or is worming their way into someone else's affection, you disapprove of the way that they are gradually making someone trust them or like them, often in order to deceive them or gain some advantage. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n prep/adv] She never misses a chance to worm her way into the public's hearts.

5 N‑COUNT A worm is a computer program that contains a virus which duplicates itself many times in a network. [COMPUTING ]

6 PHRASE If you say that someone is opening a can of worms , you are warning them that they are planning to do or talk about something which is much more complicated, unpleasant, or difficult than they realize and which might be better left alone. □  You've opened up a whole new can of worms here I think.

worm|wood /wɜː ^r mwʊd/ N‑UNCOUNT Wormwood is a plant that has a very bitter taste and is used in making medicines and alcoholic drinks.

worn /wɔː ^r n/

1Worn is the past participle of wear .

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Worn is used to describe something that is damaged or thin because it is old and has been used a lot. □  Worn rugs increase the danger of tripping.

3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone looks worn , they look tired and old. □  She was looking very haggard and worn.

4 → see also well-worn

wo rn ou t also worn-out

1 ADJ Something that is worn out is so old, damaged, or thin from use that it cannot be used any more. □  …the car's worn out tyres. □  …faded bits of worn-out clothing.

2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is worn out is extremely tired after hard work or a difficult or unpleasant experience. □  Before the race, he is fine. But afterwards he is worn out.