cocoon

1 of 2

noun

co·​coon kə-ˈkün How to pronounce cocoon (audio)
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 constructPeter 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.

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
The Dior table fork contains silver; an Hermès scarf is made from the silk of 250 Mulberry moth cocoons. Matteo Atti, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024 The larvae infest the food but can move some distance away to pupate, spinning a silken cocoon and attaching to the wall, under a shelf, or inside a box of food. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2024
Verb
Nine years spent cocooned in Bordeaux red wine casks results in an exceptionally vibrant liquid. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024 Over time, however, some of those detractors have come to appreciate the profound reality cocooned within the raw emotionality of that ending. Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cocoon 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cocoon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cocoon was in 1699

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Dictionary Entries Near cocoon

Cite this Entry

“Cocoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocoon. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on cocoon

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