silkworm

noun

silk·​worm ˈsilk-ˌwərm 

: a moth whose larva spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon

especially : an Asian moth (Bombyx mori of the family Bombycidae) whose rough wrinkled hairless caterpillar produces the silk of commerce

Examples of silkworm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Inside were two of the silkworms that had spun the silk for her wedding dress. —Nicole Briese, People.com, 29 July 2025

When observing a silkworm, it could be said that the spinning of the web can be as beautiful as the web itself, that the work itself is the thing. —Ed Simon july 21, Literary Hub, 21 July 2025

People farm insects for all sorts of reasons: Farmers rear bees to pollinate billions of dollars of crops, textile companies raise silkworms for their cocoons, and cosmetic companies use cochineal beetles for dyes. —Bob Fischer, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025

Early Chinese farmers began selectively breeding the wild silkworms that exhibited desirable traits, such as higher silk production, larger size and a less aggressive nature. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

silkworm

noun

silk·​worm ˈsil-ˌkwərm 

: any of various moth larvae that spin a large amount of silk to make a cocoon

especially : a wrinkled hairless yellowish caterpillar that is the larva of an Asian moth, is raised in captivity on mulberry leaves, and produces a strong silk that is the silk most often used for thread or cloth