Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Any of various caterpillars that produce silk cocoons, especially the larva of a moth (Bombyx mori) native to Asia that spins a cocoon of fine, strong, lustrous fiber that is the source of commercial silk.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The larva or caterpillar of a bombycine moth or silk-moth which in the chrysalis state is inclosed in a cocoon of silk; especially, such a larva, as of Bombyx (Sericaria) mori and allied species, from which silk of commercial value is obtained. There are many species, of different genera. The ordinary silkworm of commerce, or mulberry-silkworm, is the larva of Sericaria mori. It is indigenous to China, and its cultivation spread through India and Persia, reaching Constantinople about a. d. 550. This larva is a large whitish caterpillar with an anal horn, and the moth is large-bodied, white in color, with small wings. The best races have but one annual generation, and are known as annuals. There are races, however, which have two generations (bivoltins), or three (trivoltins), or four (quadrivoltins), or eight (dacys). The cocoon varies through shades of white, cream, green, or roseate, and also greatly in size. The principal moths of wild silkworms are the tusser (Attacus mylilta) of India, the yama-mai (Antheræa yama-mai) of Japan, the pernyi (Anlheræa pernyi) ol China, the ailantus or arrindy (Samia cynthia) of China, introduced into Europe and America, and the cecropia, polyphemus, promethia, and luna of North America. See cuts under
Bombyx and luna silkworm. - n. A shopper who examines goods without buying.
Wiktionary
- n. Any of various caterpillars of moths that produce silk cocoons, especially Bombyx mori which is the source of most commercial silk.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. The larva of any one of numerous species of bombycid moths, which spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon before changing to a pupa.
WordNet 3.0
- n. larva of a saturniid moth; spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon
- n. the commercially bred hairless white caterpillar of the domestic silkworm moth which spins a cocoon that can be processed to yield silk fiber; the principal source of commercial silk
Examples
“The boiled chrysalis of a species of silkworm is exposed for sale as a great delicacy, and so are certain kinds of hairless, fleshy caterpillars.”
“Silk, too, is manufactured from vegetable matter, independent of the silkworm, which is now seen only in museums.”
“For Bookings: www. asiatravel.com For More Video: book. asiatravel.com The silkworm is the larva or caterpillar of Bombyx mori (Latin: "silkworm of the mulberry tree"), the domesticated silkmoth.”
WN.com - Articles related to French holiday firm debuts 'Eco-Nature' resorts
“BLITZER: Well when he says -- the information minister, John -- that it was flying at a relatively low level, 20 to 25 meters, that would seem to suggest the kind of silkworm missile that shipped to shore, if you will, that General Shepperd was talking about earlier flying below radar.”
“I didn't know there was more than one kind of silkworm!" exclaimed”
“The silk, according to Pliny, was the produce of a large kind of silkworm not found elsewhere.”
“silkworm" yielded no results; a broader search for "ancient China" returned 12 sites.”
“It was very worrying and expensive, said the former silkworm farmer, who is now without land or work and living with his large family on a government allowance of 100 yuan £100 per person per month.”
The Guardian: China water resettlement: 'Honest folk have lost out'
“Standing in the camphorous light of the station, the glowing things of civilization all around her, a single silkworm rappels delicately from the ticket kiosk.”
“What a shame then to ruin it with that clumsy first sentence, which makes the silkworm the subject.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘silkworm’.
-
The Worm List
List of all things wormy.
hookworm, earworm, roundworm, corn earworm, bollworm, pinworm, whipworm, earthworm, heartworm, polychete, teredo, lugworm and 53 more...
-
Silk
filator, quadrivoltine, trivoltin, trivoltine, trigoneutic, grasserie, grege, samia cynthia, Bombyx, bombycid, silkworm, silk moth and 84 more...
ruzuzu Ha! Apr 8, 2011
oroboros Two silkworms had a race. They ended up in a tie. Oct 21, 2008