Main Difference
The main difference between Wool and Silk is that the Wool is a natural fibre from the soft hair of sheep or other mammals and fine, lustrous, natural fiber produced by the larvae of various silk moths, especially the species Bombyx mori
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Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other animals, including cashmere and mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, from hide and fur clothing from bison, angora from rabbits, and other types of wool from camelids; additionally, the Highland and the Mangalica breeds of cattle and swine, respectively, possess wooly coats. Wool consists of protein together with a few percent lipids. In this regard it is chemically quite distinct from the more dominant textile, cotton, which is mainly cellulose.
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Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity (sericulture). The shimmering appearance of silk is due to the triangular prism-like structure of the silk fibre, which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles, thus producing different colors.
Silk is produced by several insects, like silk worms but generally only the silk of moth caterpillars has been used for textile manufacturing. There has been some research into other types of silk, which differ at the molecular level. Silk is mainly produced by the larvae of insects undergoing complete metamorphosis, but some insects such as webspinners and raspy crickets produce silk throughout their lives. Silk production also occurs in Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants), silverfish, mayflies, thrips, leafhoppers, beetles, lacewings, fleas, flies, and midges. Other types of arthropod produce silk, most notably various arachnids such as spiders.
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Wool (noun)
The hair of the sheep, llama and some other ruminants.
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Wool (noun)
A cloth or yarn made from the wool of sheep.
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Wool (noun)
Anything with a texture like that of wool.
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Wool (noun)
A leaves of certain trees, such as firs and pines.
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Wool (noun)
Short, thick hair, especially when crisped or curled.
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Wool (noun)
yarn (including that which is made from synthetic fibers.)
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Silk (noun)
A fine fiber excreted by the silkworm or other arthropod (such as a spider).
“The silk thread was barely visible.”
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Silk (noun)
A fine, soft cloth woven from silk fibers.
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Silk (noun)
Anything which resembles silk, such as the filiform styles of the female flower of maize.
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Silk (noun)
The gown worn by a Senior (i.e. Queen’s/King’s) Counsel.
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Silk (noun)
A Senior (i.e. Queen’s/King’s) Counsel.
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Silk (noun)
A pair of long silk sheets suspended in the air on which a performer performs tricks.
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Silk (noun)
The garments worn by a jockey displaying the colors of the horse’s owner.
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Silk (verb)
To remove the silk from (corn).
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Wool (noun)
the fine, soft curly or wavy hair forming the coat of a sheep, goat, or similar animal, especially when shorn and prepared for use in making cloth or yarn
“Harris tweed is made from pure new wool”
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Wool (noun)
yarn or textile fibre made from wool
“her blue wool suit”
“carpets made of 80 per cent wool and 20 per cent nylon”
“a sampler in coloured wools”
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Wool (noun)
the soft underfur or down of some mammals
“beaver wool”
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Wool (noun)
a metal or mineral made into a mass of fine fibres
“lead wool”
