silkworm

/ˌsɪlkˈwʌrm/

Other forms: silkworms

Definitions 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
   type of:

   caterpillar

   a wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth
2. noun

   larva of a saturniid moth; spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon
   synonyms: giant silkworm, wild wilkworm

   types:

   Samia cynthia, ailanthus silkworm

   large green silkworm of the cynthia moth

   type of:

   caterpillar

   a wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth