Metamorphosis Word Search

Illustrated Metamorphosis scene — AI-generated artwork behind this topic's word search puzzle
Illustrated Metamorphosis scene — AI-generated artwork behind this topic's word search puzzle

Metamorphosis, as a word search. 12 words drawn from the terms and ideas of a school subject sit hidden in a 15×15 letter grid, running in every direction. Drag across a word to claim it, and clear the board to finish.

Words to find: METAMORPHOSIS, INSECT, LARVA, PUPA, CHRYSALIS, COCOON, ADULT, BUTTERFLY, CATERPILLAR, WINGS, ANTENNAE, THORAX.

The timer only feeds a small speed bonus, so take as long as you need, and spend a hint if a word will not surface.

Metamorphosis word list, defined

METAMORPHOSIS /ˌmɛtəˈmɔːfəsɪs/ (British); /ˌmɛtərˈmɔːfəsɪs/ (US) · noun
A complete or striking change in form, structure, character, or nature. In biology, it refers to the process by which an organism undergoes a radical change in body form during its life cycle. Related: transformation, transfiguration, conversion, alteration.
INSECT /ˈɪnsɛkt/ · noun
A small arthropod with a segmented body, six legs, and usually two pairs of wings. Insects belong to the class Insecta and include ants, bees, butterflies, beetles, flies, and grasshoppers. Related: bug, hexapod.
LARVA /ˈlɑːrvə/ · noun
A larva is the immature form of an insect or other animal that differs substantially from its adult form and typically develops through a major metamorphic change. In entomology, the term refers especially to the active feeding stage between the egg and the pupa or adult. Related: grub, larval form, immature form, caterpillar.
PUPA /ˈpjuːpə/ · noun
The inactive, usually enclosed stage in the life cycle of many insects, following the larval stage and preceding the adult stage. In butterflies and moths, the pupal stage is commonly called the chrysalis, while in many other insects the pupa may be enclosed in a cocoon or formed beneath the ground. Related: chrysalis, cocoon.
CHRYSALIS /ˈkrɪsəlɪs/ · noun
The hardened outer case that protects a butterfly or moth during the pupal stage of its transformation from larva to adult. More broadly, it is used figuratively for anything in which a person or thing undergoes a transformative change. Related: pupa, cocoon, shell.
COCOON /kəˈkuːn/ · noun
A silky protective case spun by the larvae of many insects, especially moths, in which they pass the pupal stage; figuratively, a snug, sheltering environment that wraps someone in comfort or seclusion. Related: chrysalis, pupa, case, covering.
ADULT /ˈædʌlt, əˈdʌlt/ · noun
A person who has reached full physical and legal maturity, typically defined as being 18 years of age or older. As an adjective, it describes something relating to, intended for, or characteristic of grown-up people. Related: grown-up, grownup, mature person.
BUTTERFLY /ˈbʌtərflaɪ/ (US) /ˈbʌtəflaɪ/ (UK) · noun
An insect with two pairs of large, often brightly colored wings covered in tiny scales, typically active during the day and feeding on nectar through a long coiled proboscis. Related: moth-like insect is not a synonym; no precise single-word synonyms exist.
CATERPILLAR /ˈkætərˌpɪlər/ · noun
The larval stage of a butterfly or moth: an elongated, segmented creature with a soft body and several pairs of legs that feeds voraciously on plants before metamorphosing. The word can also refer informally to a tracked vehicle with caterpillar-like treads. Related: larva, grub, maggot.
WINGS /wɪŋz/ · noun; verb (third-person singular present)
The paired appendages of a bird or other flying animal that provide lift and enable flight. By extension, wings are the projecting surfaces of an aircraft, and the word can also refer to the sides of a theatre or figurative means of progress or influence. Related: feathers, pinions, airfoils, extensions.
ANTENNAE /ænˈtɛniː/ · noun (plural)
The paired, jointed sensory appendages on the heads of insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods, used for feeling, smelling, and sensing the environment. 'Antennae' is the standard plural form of the noun 'antenna'. Related: feelers, antennas, sensory organs.
THORAX /ˈθɔːræks/ · noun
The thorax is the part of the body between the neck and abdomen, containing the heart and lungs in humans and other vertebrates. In arthropods such as insects, it is the middle segment of the body, bearing the legs and, in many insects, the wings. Related: chest, breast, upper trunk.

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