Cotton
'kɒtn
Definitions
3 meaningsA soft, fluffy fiber that grows around the seeds of a plant, used to make cloth and other products.
'kɒtn
A soft, white fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of the cotton plant.
The shirt is made of 100% cotton.
💡 Simply: Imagine wrapping yourself in a soft, cozy blanket. Cotton is the fluffy stuff that makes that blanket so nice and comfortable! It's the most popular fabric for clothes because it's so comfy.
👶 For kids: Cotton is like the soft, fluffy hair that grows around the seeds of a plant. We use it to make clothes and other things.
More Examples
Cotton fields are a common sight in the southern United States.
She used cotton balls to remove her makeup.
How It's Used
"Cotton is a popular material for making clothes."
"The cotton harvest was plentiful this year."
Made of or containing cotton.
'kɒtn
Made of cotton.
The cotton sheets felt soft and cool against her skin.
💡 Simply: When a label says something is 'cotton,' it means the item is mostly made from the soft, comfy fabric.
👶 For kids: When something is cotton, it's made from the soft, fluffy stuff that grows around a plant's seeds.
More Examples
She preferred cotton clothing because it was more breathable.
This cotton shirt is very comfortable.
How It's Used
"She bought a cotton dress."
To cover or fill something with cotton.
'kɒtn
To provide or furnish with cotton.
The nurse cottoned the wound to stop the bleeding.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're putting soft cotton inside a pillow. That's like 'cottoning' something, filling it with cotton.
👶 For kids: When you 'cotton' something, it's like putting the fluffy stuff inside.
More Examples
She cottoned the inside of the box to protect the fragile items.
How It's Used
"She cottoned the wound with sterile pads."
Idioms & expressions
cotton on
To begin to understand something; to realize.
"He finally cottoned on to the fact that she didn't like him."
From Old French coton, from Arabic qutun, from Egyptian ktj.
Cotton has been cultivated for thousands of years, with evidence of its use dating back to ancient civilizations in India and Egypt.
Memory tip
Think of a cloud - cotton is soft and fluffy like a cloud and used to make clothes.