Dictionary
1cotton
noun, cot·ton often attributive \ˈkä-tən\
: a soft, white material that grows on the seeds of a tall plant and that is used to make cloth; also : the plants on which this material grows
: cloth that is made of cotton; also : clothing that is made of this cloth
: yarn that is made of cotton
Full Definition of COTTON
1
a : a soft usually white fibrous substance composed of the hairs surrounding the seeds of various erect freely branching tropical plants (genus Gossypium) of the mallow family b : a plant producing cotton; especially : one grown for its cotton c : a crop of cotton
2
a : fabric made of cotton b : yarn spun from cotton
3
: a downy cottony substance produced by various plants (as the cottonwood)
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Origin of COTTON
Middle English coton, from Anglo-French cotun, from Old Italian cotone, from Arabic quṭun, quṭn
First Known Use: 14th century
2cotton
verb
cot·tonedcot·ton·ing \ˈkät-niŋ, ˈkä-tən-iŋ\
Definition of COTTON
intransitive verb
1
: to take a liking —used with to <cottons to people easily>
2
: to come to understand —used with to or on to <cottoned on to the fact that our children work furiously — H. M. McLuhan>
See cotton defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of COTTON
1605
Rhymes with COTTON
Cotton
biographical name Cot·ton \ˈkä-tən\
Definition of COTTON
Charles 1630–1687 Eng. author & translator
Cotton
biographical name
Definition of COTTON
John 1585–1652 Am. (Eng.-born) Puritan clergyman
COTTON Defined for Kids
cotton
noun cot·ton \ˈkä-tən\
Definition of COTTON for Kids
1
: a soft fluffy usually white material made up of twisted hairs that surrounds the seeds of a tall plant of warm regions and is spun into thread or yarn
2
: thread, yarn, or cloth made from cotton
— cotton adjective <cotton handkerchiefs>
Medical Dictionary
cotton
noun , cot·ton often attrib \ˈkät-ən\
Medical Definition of COTTON
1
: a soft usually white fibrous substance composed of the hairs surrounding the seeds of various erect freely branching tropical plants (genus Gossypium) of the mallow family and used extensively in making threads, yarns, and fabrics (as in surgical dressings)
2
: a plant producing cotton; especially : one grown for its cotton
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