silkworm
Americannoun
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the larva of the Chinese silkworm moth, Bombyx mori, which spins a cocoon of commercially valuable silk.
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the larva of any of several moths of the family Saturniidae, which spins a silken cocoon.
noun
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the larva of the Chinese moth Bombyx mori, that feeds on the leaves of the mulberry tree: widely cultivated as a source of silk
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any of various similar or related larvae
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the moth of any of these larvae
Etymology
Origin of silkworm
before 1000; Middle English sylkewyrme, Old English seolcwyrm. See silk, worm
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Silkworm silk is presently the only animal silk fiber commercialized on a large scale, with well-established rearing techniques," said Mi.
From Science Daily • Sep. 20, 2023
The Silkworm is a type of coastal defense cruise missile that Iran has been known to use, and the Iran has backed the Shiite Houthi rebels.
From Washington Times • Oct. 12, 2016
After 2014’s The Silkworm, Rowling said she’ll likely write more than seven books in this series.
From Time • Jul. 30, 2015
"The Silkworm," Rowling's second Galbraith detective novel, is out June 19.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2014
On the floor over in the far corner, there was something thick and white that looked as though it might be a Silkworm.
From "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
