Lexic.us

Definition 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.

2. Noun. Larva of a saturniid moth; spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon.

Definition of Silkworm

1. 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.

Definition of Silkworm

1. Noun. Any of various caterpillars of moths that produce silk cocoons, especially ''Bombyx mori'' which is the source of most commercial silk. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Silkworm

1. a caterpillar that spins a cocoon of silk fibers [n -S]

Medical Definition of Silkworm

1. 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. The common species (Bombyx mori) feeds onm 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. 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. Origin: AS. Seolcwyrm. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Silkworm

silks silkscreen silkscreened silkscreening silkscreens silktail silktails silkware silkwares silkwear

silkweed silkweeds silkwoman silkwomen silkwood silkworm (current term) silkworm moth silkworm seed silkworms silky

silky anteater silky cornel silky dogwood silky elm silky oak silky pocket mouse silky tamarin silky terrier silky willow silky wisteria

Literary usage of Silkworm

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The New International Encyclopædia edited by Daniel Coit Gilman, Harry Thurston Peck, Frank Moore Colby (1904)
"See SILK; silkworm. SILK, VEGETABLE. A term usually applied to the fibre which surrounds the seeds of the pods of certain plants of the milkweed family. ..."

2. The Natural History of Insects by James Rennie, John Obadiah Westwood (1835)
"IT is allowed by all, that the silkworm and the mulberry-tree are indigenous to China, where the former is termed Se. According to the Chinese historians, ..."

3. A Treatise on the Origin, Progressive Improvement, and Present State of the by George Richardson Porter (1831)
"THE silkworm, or bombyx, is a species of caterpillar which, like all other insects of the same class, undergoes a variety of changes during the short period ..."

4. The Textile Fibres: Their Physical, Microscopical and Chemical Properties by Joseph Merritt Matthews (1907)
"Diseases of the silkworm.—The silkworm is particularly liable to contract various diseases, which become more or less epidemic in character. ..."

5. The Medical Times and Gazette (1879)
"Treated by continuous silkworm- gut suture covered with a piece of dry lint. ... Wishing to see whether silkworm-gut would be absorbed like catgut, ..."

6. Textiles by Paul Henry Nystrom (1916)
"silkworm diseases.—The silkworm is subject to a number of severe diseases, ... SCIENCE IN TREATING silkworm DISEASES.—Pasteur, a noted French scientist, ..."

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