Search Result for "silkworm": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. 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;

2. larva of a saturniid moth; spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon;
[syn: silkworm, giant silkworm, wild wilkworm]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Silkworm \Silk"worm`\, n. [AS. seolcwyrm.] (Zool.) 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. [1913 Webster] Note: The common species (Bombyx mori) feeds on the leaves of the white mulberry tree. It is native of China, but has long been introduced into other countries of Asia and Europe, and is reared on a large scale. In America it is reared only to small extent. The Ailanthus silkworm (Philosamia cynthia) is a much larger species, of considerable importance, which has been introduced into Europe and America from China. The most useful American species is the Polyphemus. See Polyphemus. [1913 Webster] Pernyi silkworm, the larva of the Pernyi moth. See Pernyi moth. Silkworm gut, a substance prepared from the contents of the silk glands of silkworms and used in making lines for angling. See Gut. Silkworm rot, a disease of silkworms; muscardine. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Caterpillar \Cat"er*pil`lar\, n. [OE. catyrpel, corrupted fr. OF. chatepelouse, or cate pelue, fr. chate, F. chatte, she-cat, fem. of chat, L. catus + L. pilosus hairy, or F. pelu hairy, fr. L. pilus hair. See Cat, and Pile hair.] 1. (Zool.) The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm. [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with pods resembling caterpillars. [1913 Webster] Caterpillar catcher, or Caterpillar eater (Zool.), a bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on caterpillars. The name is also given to several other birds. Caterpillar hunter (Zool.), any species of beetles of the genus Callosoma and other allied genera of the family Carabid[ae] which feed habitually upon caterpillars. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

silkworm n 1: 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 2: larva of a saturniid moth; spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon [syn: silkworm, giant silkworm, wild wilkworm]