silk moth

noun

1

: the common silkworm (Bombyx mori)

2

: saturniid

especially : one (such as the cecropia moth) that produces a cocoon of silk

Examples of silk moth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to ancient Chinese lore, the wife of the Yellow Emperor was sipping hot tea under a mulberry tree when the cocoon of a silkworm, the larva of a silk moth, fell into her cup. — Amy Paturel, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025

The domestication of the silk moth is one of the oldest examples of insect domestication. — Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

The team boiled silk moth cocoons in a solution to break them down into proteins called fibroin. — Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2024

The researchers’ sticky fibers come from silk moth cocoons, which are broken down into their fibroin protein building blocks by boiling them in solution. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for silk moth

• broadcloth
• cheesecloth
• loincloth
• neckcloth
• oilcloth
• sackcloth
• washcloth
• zeroth
• broth
• cloth
• doth
• froth

Kids Definition

silk moth

noun

: the silkworm moth