any of various insects, insect larvae, molluscs, or crustaceans that bore into rock or plant material, esp wood
See also woodborer, cornborer, marine borer, rock borer
borer in American English
(ˈbɔrər)
noun
1.
a tool for boring or drilling
2.
a person whose work is to bore holes
3.
an insect or its larval worm that bores holes in trees, fruit, etc.
4.
a shipworm
Examples of 'borer' in a sentence
borer
"Everything is not backed up, Mr. Colvin," the man said, his voice still friendly, his pale gaze like an ice borer.
S.M. Stirling T2: INFILTRATOR (2001)
Word lists with
borer
tool
All related terms of 'borer'
borer bomb
a device that emits pesticide fumes
corn borer
the larva of a European moth ( Ostrinia nubilalis ), now a destructive pest in the U.S., feeding on corn and other plants
rock borer
any of various sea creatures that bore into rock, such as some sea urchins , sponges , annelid worms , barnacles , isopods , and molluscs
root borer
any insect or insect larva that bores into the roots of plants
marine borer
any mollusc or crustacean that lives usually in warm seas and destroys wood by boring into and eating it. The gribble and shipworm are the best known since they penetrate any wood in favourable water
apple tree borer
the larva of a metallic wood-boring beetle , Chrysobothris femorata , that bores into the wood of apple and other fruit trees