cocoon

Noun · Verb
US[kuh-koon]/kəˈkun/2 syllables

Open English WordNet

Noun (1)cocoons

  1. silky envelope spun by the larvae of many insects to protect pupas and by spiders to protect eggsType of natural object

Verb (2)cocoons

  1. retreat as if into a cocoon, as from an unfriendly environment“Families cocoon around the T.V. set most evenings”“She loves to stay at home and cocoon”More general retreat
  2. wrap in or as if in a cocoon, as for protectionMore general envelop, enfold
Word of the day · Oct 21About this word
artificenoun

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Co·coon′ noun

Origin: F. cocon, dim. of coque shell of egge and insects, fr. L. concha mussel shell. See Conch.

1. An oblong case in which the silkworm lies in its chrysalis state. It is formed of threads of silk spun by the worm just before leaving the larval state. From these the silk of commerce is prepared.

2. Zoology (a) The case constructed by any insect to contain its larva or pupa. (b) The case of silk made by spiders to protect their eggs. (c) The egg cases of mucus, etc., made by leeches and other worms.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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