First Known Use: 1679
Dictionary
1cocoon
noun co·coon \kə-ˈkün\
: a covering usually made of silk which some insects (such as caterpillars) make around themselves to protect them while they grow
: something that covers or protects a person or thing
Full Definition of COCOON
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
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Origin of COCOON
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
Related to COCOON
Rhymes with COCOON
aswoon, attune, baboon, balloon, bassoon, blue moon, buffoon, Calhoun, Cancún, cardoon, cartoon, commune, doubloon, dragoon, festoon, fine-tune, forenoon, full moon, gaboon, gadroon, galloon, Gudrun, half-moon, harpoon, high noon, immune, impugn, jargoon, jejune, Kowloon, Kunlun, lagoon, lampoon, lardoon, Maine coon, maroon, monsoon, Neptune, new moon, oppugn, Pashtun, patroon, platoon, poltroon, pontoon, premune, puccoon, quadroon, ratoon, repugn, rough-hewn, saloon, Sassoon, shalloon, soupspoon, spittoon, spontoon, teaspoon, tribune, triune, tuchun, tycoon, typhoon, untune, Walloon
2cocoon
verb
: to cover or protect (someone or something) completely
: to spend time at home instead of going out for other activities
Full Definition of COCOON
transitive verb
: to wrap or envelop in or as if in a cocoon
See cocoon defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of COCOON
1881
COCOON Defined for Kids
cocoon
noun co·coon \kə-ˈkün\
Definition of COCOON for Kids
: the silky covering which a moth caterpillar makes around itself and in which it is protected while changing into a moth
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