cotton

SayKOT-n/ˈkɑt.n̩/UK/ˈkɒt.n̩/

Pluralcottons (some meanings)

23 meanings of cotton

1
noununcountable
A soft, white material made of fine hairs that grows around the seeds of a plant.
Like the soft, fluffy fur you might imagine pulling from a small cloud.
Soft cotton grows in the fields and is picked when the pods open.
She pulled a small tuft of cotton from the open seed pod.
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2
noununcountable
Cloth or fabric made from the fibers of the cotton plant.
This shirt is made of soft cotton.
Cotton feels cool against the skin in summer.
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3
adjective
Made from the soft fibers of the cotton plant.
She wore a soft cotton dress to the party.
These cotton sheets feel cool at night.
4
noununcountable
A bushy plant that produces soft white fibers around its seeds.
Farmers grow cotton in warm, sunny fields.
Cotton needs a long, frost-free season to grow well.
5
noununcountable
Thread made from twisted cotton fibers, used for sewing.
She threaded the needle with fine white cotton.
He sewed the loose button on with strong cotton.
Similarthread
6
nouncountable
A piece of clothing that is made from cotton cloth.
She pulled a light cotton over her shoulders before going outside.
He packed a few cottons for the warm trip.
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7
verbintransitive
To get along well with someone.
The two roommates cotton well and rarely argue.
New workers often cotton quickly with the rest of the team.
Similarbond
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8
noununcountable
A soft, white, fluffy material made of fine fibers, no matter where it comes from.
Like the white fluff that floats off a dandelion.
In spring, the poplar trees release clouds of white cotton that float through the air.
The inside of the pod was full of soft cotton wrapped around the seeds.
9
noununcountable
A plant that wraps its seeds in thin fibers, which people gather to make cloth.
People grow cotton for the thin fibers around its seeds, which become thread and cloth.
Long ago, families raised their own cotton and wove the seed fibers into fabric.
10
verbtransitive
To protect someone from hard or upsetting things.
Some parents cotton their kids and never let them face problems.
They cotton the baby from every loud noise in the house.
Similarshelter, coddle, cosset, insulate, muffle
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11
nounarchaicuncountable
The wick of a candle, made from twisted threads.
He trimmed the cotton before lighting the candle.
The cotton burned low, and the room slowly grew dim.
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12
verbtransitive
To add cotton to something to fill or cushion it.
Like adding soft padding around something to keep it safe.
Workers cotton the crates to cushion the fragile glassware.
She cottoned the small box to protect the figurine inside.
Similarpad
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13
verbtransitive
To pack something with a lump of soft cotton.
Like stuffing a pillow with soft filling.
Dentists cotton the tooth before placing the filling.
He cottoned his ears to block the loud noise.
Similarpad, stuff, pack
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14
verbtransitive
To wrap something in cotton cloth to keep it safe.
Like wrapping a gift in soft cloth so it doesn't get hurt.
Gardeners cotton their young trees before the first frost.
She cottoned the vase carefully before shipping it.
Similarwrap
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15
verbtransitive
To put a cotton wick into a lamp or candle.
Like putting a string into a candle so it can burn.
Lamp makers cotton each lantern before selling it.
He cottoned the oil lamp and lit it at dusk.
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16
verbtransitive
To rub or polish something using cotton.
Like wiping a window with a soft cloth until it's clear.
Jewelers cotton the silver until it shines.
She cottoned the lens to remove every smudge.
Similarpolish, buff, rub
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17
verbtransitive
To cover something in a white layer, the way snow does.
Like a blanket of snow that turns everything white.
Each winter, blizzards cotton the rooftops in glittering white.
By dawn, fog had cottoned the valley in soft white.
Similarshroud, blanket, cloak
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18
verbtransitive
To brush cloth so it feels soft and fuzzy.
Like brushing a towel until it feels fluffy.
Mills cotton the flannel to give it a gentle softness.
The finisher cottoned the blanket until its surface felt plush.
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19
verbintransitive
To become soft and full of tiny holes, like old cotton.
Like an old apple that turns dry and spongy inside.
Radishes cotton if you leave them in the ground too long.
The apples had cottoned inside, dry and tasteless.
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20
verbtransitive
To make something look as if it is dotted with small white puffs, like cotton balls.
Small white clouds cotton the sky on summer days.
Little white waves cottoned the lake when the wind picked up.
Similardot, speckle
21
verbtransitive
To cover the walls of a room with cloth.
Like hanging a soft blanket over a wall instead of using paint.
Decorators cotton the walls to make the room feel warm.
They cottoned the bedroom walls in pale silk.
Similarline
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22
verbtransitive
To punish someone by covering them with tar and then cotton.
A gang threatened to tar and cotton the newspaper editor if he kept printing his views.
After he was tarred and cottoned, he could barely open his eyes.
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23
noun
A liking.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–6, 8–22

It came through French and Italian from the Arabic word "quṭun," meaning cotton.

Meaning 7

From the 1560s, perhaps from Welsh words meaning "to agree" or "to be at one with," or as a comparison to how cotton blends well with other cloth.