The Greek word for worm, particularly earthworms or the larvae of insects. In the NT it appears exclusively in Mark 9:44, 46, 48—Jesus' warning about Gehenna where 'their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched,' echoing Isaiah 66:24. The imagery is stark: worms that perpetually consume but are never satisfied, symbolizing unending destruction. Classical Greek uses it for various worms and grubs, those found in dung, decayed matter, or infested trees—creatures associated with corruption and death.