Adjacent Words

Cocoon definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

COCOON, n. An oblong ball or case in which the silk-worm involves itself, formed by threads which compose silk.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: silky envelope spun by the larvae of many insects to protect pupas and by spiders to protect eggs v
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"
2: wrap in or as if in a cocoon, as for protection

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: 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 Date: 1679 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 II. transitive verb Date: 1881 to wrap or envelop in or as if in a cocoon

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a a silky case spun by many insect larvae for protection as pupae. b a similar structure made by other animals. 2 a protective covering, esp. to prevent corrosion of metal equipment. --v. 1 tr. & intr. wrap in or form a cocoon. 2 tr. spray with a protective coating. Etymology: F cocon f. mod. Prov. coucoun dimin. of coca shell

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Cocoon Co*coon", n. [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. (Zo["o]l.) (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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(cocoons, cocooning, cocooned) 1. A cocoon is a covering of silky threads that the larvae of moths and other insects make for themselves before they grow into adults. N-COUNT 2. If you are in a cocoon of something, you are wrapped up in it or surrounded by it. He stood there in a cocoon of golden light. N-COUNT: usu N of n 3. If you are living in a cocoon, you are in an environment in which you feel protected and safe, and sometimes isolated from everyday life. You cannot live in a cocoon and overlook these facts. N-COUNT: usu N of n 4. If something cocoons you from something, it protects you or isolates you from it. There is nowhere to hide when things go wrong, no organisation to cocoon you from blame... The playwright cocooned himself in a world of pretence. VERB: V n from/in n, V pron-refl in n