cotton

¹cot·ton

noun, often attributive \ˈkä-t^ən\

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)

Examples of COTTON

1. They are in the field picking cotton.
2. She doesn't wear cotton in the winter.

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

intransitive verb

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

Definition of COTTON

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>

First Known Use of COTTON

1605

Rhymes with COTTON

rotten

Cot·ton

biographical name \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

cot·ton

noun , often attrib \ˈkät-^ən\   (Medical Dictionary)

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

cotton

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).—Rod Heinrichs/Grant Heilman Photography

Seed-hair fibre of various plants of the genus Gossypium, in the mallow family, native to most subtropical countries. The shrubby plants produce creamy white flowers, followed by small green seedpods (cotton bolls), which contain the seeds. Fibres growing from the outer skin of the seeds become tightly packed within the boll, which bursts open at maturity to reveal soft masses of the white to yellowish white fibres. Cotton is harvested when the bolls open. One of the world's leading agricultural crops, cotton is plentiful and economically produced, making cotton products relatively inexpensive. The fibres can be made into a diverse array of fabrics suitable for a great variety of apparel, home furnishings, and industrial uses. Cotton fabrics can be extremely durable and are comfortable to wear. Nonwoven cotton, made by fusing or bonding the fibres, is useful for making disposable products including towels, polishing cloths, tea bags, tablecloths, bandages, and disposable uniforms and sheets for hospital and other medical uses.