silkworm

[ silk-wurm ]

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.

silkworm

/ 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. silkworm moth
   silkworm moth the moth of any of these larvae

Word History and Origins

Origin of silkworm¹

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

Example Sentences

Giving revamped silkworm silk a metallic bath may make the strands both strong and stiff, scientists report October 6 in Matter.

From Science News

Every kit contained some scientific goody, such as a fingerprinting kit, flexible magnet or silkworm cocoon — including some Things of Science products that definitely wouldn’t fly today, like asbestos-containing fabrics.

From Science News

Thanks to the Silk Road, the contribution of silkworms to the history of global trade is more widely appreciated.

From Nautilus

Silkworms have been doing their thing for more than 300 million years.

From Nautilus

In The Silkworm, Rowling deploys this knack with an almost perfect touch.

From The Daily Beast

The Silkworm brings back Cormoran Strike (yes, Potterish names still abound).

From The Daily Beast

The caterpillar produces silk, though it is not equal to that of the better known silkworm.

From Project Gutenberg

The Mussel which makes such long anchor-threads might be called "the silkworm of the sea."

From Project Gutenberg

The Silkworm is about eight weeks in arriving at maturity, during which period it changes its skin four or five times.

From Project Gutenberg

At a certain period of its existence the silkworm gives off a secretion of jelly-like substance.

From Project Gutenberg

Malpighi has observed that a silkworm often eats in a day mulberry leaves equal to its own weight.

From Project Gutenberg