cocoon

CEFRB2

/kəˈkuːn/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A covering made by an insect before it becomes an adult.

  2. 02

    verb

    To protect or surround someone in a comfortable way.

Examples

  • Caterpillars transform into butterflies while they're in a cocoon.

  • I saw a cocoon on the tree.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
2

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Any similar protective case.

  2. To envelop in a protective case.

  3. The silky case spun by the larvae of some insects in which they metamorphose, protecting the pupa within.

More examples

In context

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

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

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The caterpillar spun a silky blank around itself for protection.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

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