cocoon

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

• IPA^(key): /kəˈkuːn/ [kʰɘ̞ˈkʰu̟ːn]

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• Rhymes: -uːn
• Homophone: kokoon

cocoon (plural cocoons)

1. The silky case spun by the larvae of some insects in which they metamorphose, protecting the pupa within.
2. Any similar protective case, whether real or metaphorical.
   • 1997 June 24, Robert Dart, quotee, “CTA To Leave Train Conductors At The Station”, in Chicago Tribune‎^[1]:

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

• → Malayalam: കൊക്കൂൺ (kokkūṇ)

cocoon (third-person singular simple present cocoons, present participle cocooning, simple past and past participle cocooned)

1. (transitive) To envelop in a protective case.
   • 2021, Rivers Solomon, Sorrowland, #Merky Books, page 163:

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

2. (intransitive) To withdraw into such a case.