chrysalis

noun

chrys·​a·​lis ˈkri-sə-ləs How to pronounce chrysalis (audio)
plural chrysalides kri-ˈsa-lə-ˌdēz How to pronounce chrysalis (audio) or chrysalises
1
a
: a pupa of a butterfly
broadly : an insect pupa
b
: the hardened outer protective layer of a pupa
2
: a protecting covering
also : a sheltered state or stage of being or growth
… a budding writer could not emerge from his chrysalis too soon. William Du Bois

Illustration of chrysalis

Illustration of chrysalis
  • chrysalis 1

Examples of chrysalis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web By the time Miles emerged from his Hill Country chrysalis, people recognized and approached him. Avery Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2024 The monarch’s black, white and yellow ringed caterpillars also eat common milkweed leaves, then form jewel-like chrysalides, which hang from those leaves. Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2024 When that chrysalis cracks open, there is the colorful, winged creature that delights us so much—the butterfly. TIME, 27 Dec. 2023 White admirals and meadow fritillary caterpillars form chrysalises attached to twigs, and adult morning cloaks hide among sticks and rocks. Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023 Or, hang on, maybe life is a chrysalis, a labyrinth, or a box of chocolates. Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023 Its iridescent casting mold looks almost like a chrysalis awaiting the emergence of a monumental butterfly. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023 In addition, caterpillars of azure and swallowtail butterflies move off their host plants during the autumn, in search of upright stalks to keep their chrysalises off the ground. Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023 Life is blooming everywhere on the Nashville-area farm where singer-songwriter Jason Isbell resides with his wife, the musician Amanda Shires, and their daughter Mercy: a garden of Monarch chrysalises about to hatch, a couple of fresh baby chicks, vegetables climbing their trellises. Marissa R. Moss, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chrysalis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin chrȳsallid-, chrȳsallis, borrowed from Greek chrȳsallid-, chrȳsallís, from chrȳsós "gold" (referring to the metallic gold-like sheen of some butterfly pupae) + -allid-, -allis, noun suffix of some plant and animal names — more at chryso-

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of chrysalis was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near chrysalis

Cite this Entry

“Chrysalis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chrysalis. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

chrysalis

noun
chrys·​a·​lis ˈkris-ə-ləs How to pronounce chrysalis (audio)
plural chrysalides kris-ˈal-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce chrysalis (audio) or chrysalises
ˈkris-ə-lə-səz
: the pupa of a butterfly or moth
also : the hardened outer layer of such a pupa compare cocoon sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on chrysalis

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