chrysalis
Chrysalis (noun) means the hard protective case a caterpillar forms around itself while it transforms into a butterfly. Example: “The caterpillar hung motionless inside its chrysalis for two weeks.”
How to Use Chrysalis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe protective shell a caterpillar makes while turning into a butterfly, or a period of quiet transformation.
A chrysalis is specifically the butterfly pupa case; a cocoon (silk-spun) is the moth equivalent — the two are often used interchangeably but technically differ.
Word Forms
chrysalised past tense, chrysalises plural, chrysalides plural, chrysalisses plural, chrysalises singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The caterpillar hung motionless inside its _____ for two weeks.
Etymology
From Latin chrysalis, from Greek khrusallís, related to khrusós (\"gold\") — likely a reference to the golden sheen of some species' pupal cases.
Rhymes for chrysalis
See all rhymes for chrysalis →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “chrysalis” mean?
The word “chrysalis” means the hard protective case a caterpillar forms around itself while it transforms into a butterfly. In plain terms, the protective shell a caterpillar makes while turning into a butterfly, or a period of quiet transformation.
How do you pronounce “chrysalis”?
“Chrysalis” is pronounced KRIH-suh-lihs (/ˈkɹɪsəlɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “chrysalis” in a sentence?
Here is “chrysalis” used in a sentence: “The caterpillar hung motionless inside its chrysalis for two weeks.”
What part of speech is “chrysalis”?
“Chrysalis” is a noun.
Where does the word “chrysalis” come from?
The word “chrysalis” comes from Latin. From Latin chrysalis, from Greek khrusallís, related to khrusós (\"gold\") — likely a reference to the golden sheen of some species' pupal cases.
How many meanings does “chrysalis” have?
“Chrysalis” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the hard protective case a caterpillar forms around itself while it transforms into a butterfly.