chrysalis

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Pronunciation

• enPR: krĭʹsəlĭs, IPA: /ˈkɹɪsəlɪs/

Noun

chrysalis (plural chrysalises or chrysalides)

1. The pupa#Noun|pupa of a butterfly#Noun|butterfly or moth#Noun|moth, enclosed inside a cocoon#Noun|cocoon, in which metamorphosis#Noun|metamorphosis takes place
   • 1929, M. Barnard Eldershaw, A House Is Built, Chapter VII, Section viii

     Fanny was afraid. She was like an insect new-hatched from its chrysalis, naked and unprotected in a dawn she could not face.

2. The cocoon itself.
3. (figurative) A strong constraint.

Translations

• French: chrysalide
• German: Puppe
• Italian: crisalide
• Portuguese: crisálida, crisálide
• Russian: ку́колка
• Spanish: crisálida

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