What is "nematoda"

Nematoidea \Nem`a*toi"de*a\, prop. n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. nh^ma, nh`matos, thread + -oid.] (Zo["o]l.) A phylum of worms, having a long, round, and generally smooth body; the roundworms. Called also Nematodea, and more commonly Nematoda. Formerly, it was classed as a taxonomic order.

Note: The trichina, stomach worm, and pinworm of man belong to this group. See also Vinegar eel, under Vinegar, and Gapeworm.

Nematoda \Nem`a*to"da\, prop. n. pl. (Zo["o]l.) A phylum of worms, having a long, round, and generally smooth body; the roundworms. They are mostly parasites, in plants and animals, but some are free-living in soil or water. Also called Nematoidea.

a class of worms, Modern Latin compound of nemat- "thread" (from Greek nema, genitive nematos "thread," from stem of nein "to spin;" see needle (n.)) + -odes "like, of the nature of" (see -oid).