A pupa is an insect that is in the stage of development between a larva and a fully grown adult. It has a protective covering and does not move.
[technical]
The pupae remain dormant in the soil until they emerge as adult moths in the winter.
pupa in British English
(ˈpjuːpə)
nounWord forms: plural-pae (-piː) or -pas
an insect at the immobile nonfeeding stage of development between larva and adult, when many internal changes occur
coarctate, exarate, obtect
Derived forms
pupal (ˈpupal)
adjective
Word origin
C19: via New Latin, from Latin: a doll, puppet
pupa in American English
(ˈpjupə)
nounWord forms: pluralˈpupae (ˈpjupi) or ˈpupas
an insect in the nonfeeding stage of development between the last larval and adult forms, characterized by many anatomical changes and, often, by enclosure in a cell or cocoon
Derived forms
pupal (ˈpupal)
adjective
Word origin
ModL: so named by Linnaeus < L, girl, doll, prob. < IE *pup- < base *pu-, to swell up, inflate
Examples of 'pupa' in a sentence
pupa
Down lower she was covered by it entirely, like a small insect encased in its silky pupa --- could see nothing.