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cocoon

noun

  1. shell made of silk by most kinds of moth caterpillars and other insect larvae
L253924 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. to swathe as in a cocoon
L331182 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /kəˈkuːn/

noun

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

  1. The silky case spun by the larvae of some insects in which they metamorphose, protecting the pupa within.
  2. Any similar protective case.

    The bad guys generally don’t like to get on trains, because they’re trapped on a moving cocoon that the CTA controls.

verb

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

  1. To envelop in a protective case.

    Vern grabbed the throw draped over the back of the sofa and cocooned herself within it.

  2. To withdraw into such a case.