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

In Japan grasshoppers, silkworms, and wasps were traditionally eaten in land-locked areas where meat and fish were scarce.

From BBC

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

“One time,” said Mara, “we destroyed a whole city’s economy after all their silkworms died.”

From Literature

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

SEATTLE—For millennia, people have marveled at the intricacies of spiders’ strong, silken webs and treasured the luxurious softness of silk spun by silkworms.

From Science Magazine