silkworm

/ˈsɪlkˌwʌrm/
IPA guide

Other forms: silkworms

Definitions of silkworm
  1. noun
    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
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    type of:
    caterpillar
    a wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth
  2. noun
    larva of a saturniid moth; spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon
    synonyms: giant silkworm, wild wilkworm
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    types:
    Samia cynthia, ailanthus silkworm
    large green silkworm of the cynthia moth
    type of:
    caterpillar
    a wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth
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