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¹cotton

noun, cot·ton often attributive \ˈkä-t^ən\

: 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

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

a : fabric made of cotton

b : yarn spun from cotton

: a downy cottony substance produced by various plants (as the cottonwood)

See cotton defined for English-language learners

See cotton defined for kids

Illustration of COTTON

Origin of COTTON

Middle English coton, from Anglo-French cotun, from Old Italian cotone, from Arabic quṭun, quṭn

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Textiles Terms

batt, bias, brocade, duck, flock, lawn, toile

Rhymes with COTTON

rotten, shotten

²cotton

verb

cot·tonedcot·ton·ing \ˈkät-niŋ, ˈkä-t^ən-iŋ\

Definition of COTTON

intransitive verb

: to take a liking —used with to <cottons to people easily>

: 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

rotten

Cotton

biographical name Cot·ton \ˈkä-t^ən\

Definition of COTTON

Charles 1630–1687 Eng. author & translator

Cotton

biographical name

Definition of COTTON

John 1585–1652 Am. (Eng.-born) Puritan clergyman

COTTON[1] Defined for Kids

cotton

noun cot·ton \ˈkä-t^ən\

Definition of COTTON for Kids

: 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

: 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

: 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)

: a plant producing cotton; especially : one grown for its cotton