cocoon

1 of 2

noun

co·​coon kə-ˈkün 

1

a

: an envelope often largely of silk which an insect larva forms about itself and in which it passes the pupa stage

b

: any of various other protective coverings produced by animals

2

a

: something suggesting a cocoon especially in providing protection or in producing isolation

wrapped in a cocoon of blankets

an interest in the world beyond the everyday cocoon most of us construct

—Peter Mayle

b

: a protective covering placed or sprayed over military or naval equipment in storage

cocoon

2 of 2

verb

cocooned; cocooning; cocoons

transitive verb

: to wrap or envelop in or as if in a cocoon

Did you know?

Since at least the late 1600s, English speakers have been using the noun cocoon for the silky covering that surrounds a caterpillar or other insect larva in the pupa stage of metamorphosis. The word derives, via French cocon, from Occitan coucoun, which, in turn, emerged from coco, an Occitan term for "shell." Linguists believe the Occitan term was probably born of the Latin word coccum, a noun that has been translated as kermes, which refers to the dried bodies of some insects that are sometimes found on certain trees. The verb cocoon has been with us since the latter half of the 19th century.

Synonyms

Noun

• armor
• capsule
• case
• casing
• cover
• covering
• encasement
• housing
• hull
• husk
• jacket
• pod
• sheath
• shell

Verb

• bosom
• bower
• circumfuse
• embosom
• embower
• embrace
• enclose
• inclose
• encompass
• enfold
• enshroud
• enswathe
• envelop
• enwrap
• invest
• involve
• lap
• mantle
• muffle
• shroud
• swathe
• veil
• wrap

Examples of cocoon in a Sentence

Noun

The child was wrapped in a cocoon of blankets.

The movie star was surrounded by a protective cocoon of bodyguards.

Verb

Americans are spending more time cocooning at home in recent years.

cocooned in puffy down parkas, we braved the bitter cold as best we could

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Scenic designer Christopher Scott Murillo has placed the event in a wonderfully tight and cluttered, but recognizably safe, home environment, a visual cocoon nurturing the two characters. —Christopher Smith, Orange County Register, 13 May 2024

The larvae hatch and eat the caterpillars from the inside out and then glue their cocoons to the outside of the caterpillar. —Elizabeth A. Harris, New York Times, 13 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French cocon, from Occitan coucoun, from coco shell, probably ultimately from Latin coccum kermes (thought to be a gall or berry), from Greek kokkos berry, kermes

First Known Use

Noun

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1881, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

cocoon

noun

co·​coon

kə-ˈkün

1

: an envelope usually of silk which the larva of some insects (as moths) forms about itself and in which it passes the pupa stage compare chrysalis

2

: a covering suggesting a cocoon