earworm
📖 Definitions
noun
1. A catchy song or tune that keeps involuntarily repeating in one’s mind.
2. An agricultural pest commonly known as corn earworm, of the species Helicoverpa zea or Helicoverpa armigera.
💬 Usage Examples
“It is an irresistible earworm, topping the charts in Norway and reaching number six on the Billboard chart in America.” Played for Laughs; The Economist (London, UK); Jul 18, 2020. “The caterpillar was basically a pest species, related to a corn earworm, and not significant at all.” Elizabeth Kolbert; A Little-Known Planet; The New Yorker; Mar 20, 2023.