cocoon

noun

co·coon | \ kə-ˈkün

Definition of cocoon

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

2a : 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

verb

cocooned; cocooning; cocoons

Definition of cocoon (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

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

Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about cocoon

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Did You Know?

Verb

Since at least 1679, 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 came into English from French, which in turn borrowed it from an Occitan term for "eggshell." Linguists believe the Occitan term was probably born of the Latin coccum, a noun that has been translated as "kermes," the dried bodies of some insects that can be found on certain trees. The verb "cocoon" has been with us since at least 1881.

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

Sweet Pass is indeed the cocoon, a respite of profound beauty and intellect, while a great transformation takes place all around it. — Dallas News, "West Dallas sculpture park provides an oasis in a rapidly changing neighborhood," 19 June 2019 Like this $2,960 chair with a textured, cocoon-like shape, and a rocking range that’s just right. — David Rovella, Bloomberg.com, "Your Evening Briefing," 2 May 2019 There’s also a cocoon chair hanging from a tree branch. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, "Kate Middleton Is Designing an Amazing Garden," 11 Feb. 2019 Tis the season for cozy chic: cocoon coats; rich, opulent textures; and bohemian details that will keep you warm AND stylish. — Divya Bala, Harper's BAZAAR, "How to Nail Statement Style This Winter," 30 Nov. 2018 But students regularly venture outside this cocoon. — Katherine Rosman, New York Times, "Thank You for Asking," 24 Feb. 2018 Whether that would allow silkworms to form cocoons (the normal purpose of the silk) isn't clear, but that may not matter for the production of large amounts of spider silk. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Researchers insert a spider web gene into the silkworm," 8 Aug. 2018 This year gave us Kanye West’s orthopedic shower slide, Meghan Markle sporting a Baby Björn at Marine Serre’s Spring 2019 show, and Kendall Jenner in an absurdly large, cocoon-like puffer coat. — Brooke Bobb, Vogue, "Meghan Markle’s Baby Björn and Pope Rihanna: 14 Memes That Synthesized the Biggest Fashion Moments of 2018," 18 Dec. 2018 Just as the caterpillar is trapped in the darkness of its cocoon before emerging as a butterfly, destruction will always precede growth. — Ebonee Davis, Harper's BAZAAR, "Model Ebonee Davis on How Suffering Leads to Power," 3 Nov. 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

After cocooning under a waterfall, Mothra eventually emerges in her winged form. — Tracy Brown, latimes.com, "‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ director explains that Mothra Easter egg," 3 June 2019 Some readers have detected an allegory for the Chinese state—a people imprisoned by their mindset, cocooned in a bubble that must eventually be pierced. — The Economist, "China’s grand, gloomy sci-fi is going global," 22 June 2019 In these vexing times comfy, cocooning furniture is having a moment. — Stephen Wallis, Town & Country, "This Polar Bear Sofa Is Beloved By the Very Rich," 15 Apr. 2019 Indeed, public opinion is now so hopelessly cocooned that the president is under investigation for colluding with our primary geopolitical foe and more than half the country doesn’t give a damn. — Sean Illing, Vox, "Intellectuals have said democracy is failing for a century. They were wrong.," 20 Dec. 2018 So imagine my surprise at stepping into a diminutive entry cocooned in homey Georgian wood paneling, a humorously tiny portrait of George Washington presiding. — Amy Merrick, WSJ, "The Cultish Home That Draws Fans of Americana Design," 3 Aug. 2018 The place should find avid fans among solitary bibliophiles, cocooning couples, design-magazine devotees and former publishing barons nostalgic for the heyday of print. — Seth Sherwood, New York Times, "In Bangkok, an Intimate Hotel With an Inky Past," 14 Apr. 2018 Small shelters, cocooned in between peaks and glaciers, have served as base camps, safe havens and warm-up spots for adventurous climbers and skiers for decades. — Devin Kelly, Anchorage Daily News, "A new hut with dramatic views rose up this summer in Alaska’s Hatcher Pass backcountry," 8 July 2018 One of them is a park and classroom cluster as part of a new campus for the Singapore Institute of Technology that will cocoon campus buildings in an urban forest. — Ken Wells, WSJ, "More Buildings Are Going Green. Literally.," 26 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cocoon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.