Meaning & use
pupa
The stage in an insect's development between the larva and the adult, often enclosed in a cocoon.
See it in a sentence
Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar's pupa slowly transforms into a butterfly over two weeks.
The biologist collected several beetle pupae to study how they change into adults.
A note on using this word
Chrysalis specifically refers to the pupa of a butterfly, while pupa is the general biological term used for insects generally, including moths and beetles.
Words with a similar meaning
chrysalis
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