noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈpjuːpə/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -uːpə
CMU ARPABET:P Y UW1 P AH0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An insect in the development stage between larva and adult.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, entomology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pupe
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
an insect in the inactive stage of development (when it is not feeding) intermediate between larva and adult
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: insect
Narrower terms: chrysalis
History
Etymology
Borrowed from New Latin, from a special use of Latin pūpa (“little girl; doll, puppet”). Doublet of pupe; compare also puppet, puppy.
Across languages
Translations
61 source translations are retained for this English entry.
