chrysalis
chrysalis
[ˈkrɪs(ə)lɪs]
(pl. chrysalises)
[ˈkrɪs(ə)lɪs]
(pl. chrysalises)
- a quiescent insect pupa, especially of a butterfly or moth
蛹（尤指蝶蛹、蛾蛹）
■the hard outer case of this, especially after being discarded
（尤指昆虫飞走后留下的）蛹壳
■(figurative)a preparatory or transitional state
(喻)形成状态；过渡状态
she emerged from the chrysalis of self-conscious adolescence.
她脱离了害羞的青春期这一过渡状态。
- early 17th cent.: from Latin chrysal(l)is, chrysal(l)id-, from Greek khrusallis, from khrusos 'gold' (because of the gold colour or metallic sheen of the pupae of some species)
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