cotton
KOT-n
Cotton (noun) means a soft white fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant, used to make thread and fabric. Example: “The shirt is made from 100% cotton.”
noun
1
A soft white fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant, used to make thread and fabric.
"The shirt is made from 100% cotton."
"Farmers here have grown cotton for generations."
"I prefer cotton sheets in summer because they stay cool."
2
The plant itself, grown for its fibre.
"Fields of cotton stretched to the horizon."
"The cotton needs plenty of sunshine and water to grow well."
"They picked the cotton by hand when the pods opened."
verb
1
Informal: to take a liking to someone or something, or start to understand it.
"I never really cottoned to modern art until I visited that gallery."
"She didn't cotton to the new manager at first."
"It took him a while to cotton on to what was really going on."
How to use cotton
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe soft plant fibre used for clothing and thread — or, as a verb, to warm up to someone or catch on to something.
Common mistake
"Cotton on to" (realize) and "cotton to" (like) are different phrasal uses — don't mix them up.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
cotton candy
cotton on to something
pure cotton
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Word forms
- Plural
- cottons
- Third person singular
- cottons
- Past tense
- cottoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The shirt is made from 100% _____.
Etymology
From Arabic quṭun via Old Italian and Old French coton, reaching English in the Middle Ages through the medieval cotton trade.
Synonyms
View more →
cotton wool
cotton fiber
cotton plant
Frequently asked questions
What does “cotton” mean?
The word “cotton” means a soft white fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant, used to make thread and fabric. In plain terms, the soft plant fibre used for clothing and thread — or, as a verb, to warm up to someone or catch on to something.
How do you pronounce “cotton”?
“Cotton” is pronounced KOT-n (/ˈkɑt.n̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “cotton” in a sentence?
Here is “cotton” used in a sentence: “The shirt is made from 100% cotton.”
What part of speech is “cotton”?
Depending on how it is used, “cotton” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cotton” come from?
The word “cotton” comes from Old French. From Arabic quṭun via Old Italian and Old French coton, reaching English in the Middle Ages through the medieval cotton trade.
Is “cotton” a common word?
“Cotton” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “cotton” have?
“Cotton” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft white fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant, used to make thread and fabric.
What is the difference between cotton and wool?
Cotton is a plant fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. Wool is an animal fibre obtained from the fleece of sheep and some other animals, and it tends to be warmer and more elastic than cotton.
What is the difference between cotton and polyester?
Cotton is a natural fibre grown from a plant, prized for being soft and breathable. Polyester is a synthetic, man-made fibre produced from chemicals, valued for durability and resistance to wrinkling.
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