cocoon

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /kəˈkuːn/ See IPA manual

Freq #18115

Meanings

1

noun
The silky covering a caterpillar spins around itself before becoming a moth or butterfly.

The caterpillar spun a cocoon and stayed inside it for two weeks.
2

noun
A safe, protective place that shuts out the outside world.

After the trip, she retreated into the warm cocoon of her home.
3

verb
To wrap or protect something as if in a cocoon.

She cocooned the baby in a soft blanket.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms cocoonedcocooningcocoons

Derived forms carcooncocoonercocoonerycocoonetcocoonishcocoonlikedecocoonuncocoon

Etymology

From French cocon, diminutive of coque (“shell”).

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# cocoon

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /kəˈkuːn/
**Frequency rank:** 18115

## Meanings
1. The silky covering a caterpillar spins around itself before becoming a moth or butterfly.
2. A safe, protective place that shuts out the outside world.
3. To wrap or protect something as if in a cocoon.

## Examples
- The caterpillar spun a cocoon and stayed inside it for two weeks.
- After the trip, she retreated into the warm cocoon of her home.
- She cocooned the baby in a soft blanket.

## Derived Forms
- carcoon
- cocooner
- cocoonery
- cocoonet
- cocoonish
- cocoonlike
- decocoon
- uncocoon

## Etymology
From French cocon, diminutive of coque (“shell”).

## AI Etymology
Cocoon is from French cocon, diminutive of coque (“shell”). Current senses include the silky covering a caterpillar spins around itself before becoming a moth or butterfly and a safe, protective place that shuts out the outside world. The wider family includes derived forms such as carcoon, cocooner, cocoonery, cocoonet, and cocoonish.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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