silkworm

American  

[silk-wurm] / ˈsɪlkˌwɜrm /

noun

1. the larva of the Chinese silkworm moth, Bombyx mori, which spins a cocoon of commercially valuable silk.

2. the larva of any of several moths of the family Saturniidae, which spins a silken cocoon.

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silkworm British  

/ ˈsɪlkˌwɜːm /

noun

1. the larva of the Chinese moth Bombyx mori, that feeds on the leaves of the mulberry tree: widely cultivated as a source of silk

2. any of various similar or related larvae

3. the moth of any of these larvae

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Etymology

Origin of silkworm

before 1000; Middle English sylkewyrme, Old English seolcwyrm. See silk, worm

Example Sentences

From producing silkworm eggs to supplying larvae and rearing cocoons, Asho Farms has integrated the latest technology.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Legend says the island used to be famous for sericulture and farmers would keep cats because they would chase away rats, protecting the silkworm cocoons from the rodents.

From Seattle Times • May 24, 2024

In response, the researchers developed a bilayer adhesive hemostat utilizing mussel adhesive proteins that exhibit strong tissue adhesion underwater and silk fibroin extracted from silkworm cocoons.

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2024

But the scientists retained some silkworm sequences in their MiSp gene construct, Mi says, in order to ensure the worm’s internal machinery could still work with the spider protein.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 19, 2023

Other familiar objects and furnishings were still in evidence, Lefty’s rebetika records, the brass coffee table, and, of course, the silkworm box, sitting in the middle of the engraved circular top.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides