| 释义 |
silkworm
\ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\ noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English seolcwyrm, from seolc silk + wyrm worm
: a moth larva that spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon before changing to a pupa: as
a. : a rough wrinkled hairless whitish caterpillar that is the larva of a stocky creamy white Asiatic moth (Bombyx mori), feeds chiefly on the leaves of white and black mulberry, is found almost entirely under human care and has been reared in China since the dawn of recorded history, and matures in about 45 days to pupate in a thick oval white or yellowish cocoon which is the source of most of the silk of commerce
b. : the larva of any of various moths of the family Saturniidae (as the ailanthus silkworm, the pernyi silkworm, the tussah silkworm, and the yamamai silkworm) — called also giant silkworm, wild silkworm |