pupanoun [ C ]
uk/ˈpjuː.pə/us/ˈpjuː.pə/plural pupae uk/-piː/usan insect in the stage of development before it becomes an adult, during which is is contained in and protected by a hard covering called a cocoon and does not move:
a moth pupa
mosquito pupae
See also
chrysalis
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
The development & parts of insects
- antenna
- caterpillar
- chrysalis
- cocoon
- egg
- feeler
- grub
- larva
- maggot
- nit
- proboscis
- silkworm
- thoracic
- woodworm
- worm
pupal
adjective uk/ˈpjuː.pəl/us/ˈpjuː.pəl/
the pupal stage of development