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cotton Definition

cot·ton (kät′'n)

noun

  1. the soft, white seed hairs filling the seedpods of various shrubby plants (genus Gossypium) of the mallow family, originally native to the tropics
  2. a plant or plants producing this material
  3. the crop of such plants
  4. thread or cloth made of cotton
  5. a downy, cottonlike substance growing on other plants

Etymology: ME cotoun < OFr coton < (? via It cotone) Ar quṭun < ? Egypt

adjective

of cotton

cotton Idioms

cotton to

Etymology: ? < notion of cotton mixing well with wool, etc.

Informal
  1. to become drawn to; take a liking to
  2. Chiefly Brit. to become aware of (a situation)

cotton up to

Informal to try to ingratiate oneself, or make friends, with

Cotton Definition

Cot·ton (kät′'n)

Cotton, John 1584-1652; Am. Puritan clergyman, born in England: grandfather of Cotton Mather

cotton Synonyms

cotton

n.

  1. gossypium (Latin), cloth, cotton shrub, King Cotton*.

    Varieties of cotton include: long-staple, short-staple, upland, Sea Island, Barbadense (Latin), Nankin, Peruvian, Brazil, Bahia, Egyptian, Pima, kidney.

  2. Varieties of cloth made out of cotton include: lawn, batiste, chintz, organdy, dotted swiss, voile, cambric, calico, chambray, broadcloth, denim, lisle, ticking, net, muslin, crinoline, flannelette, gingham, jersey, piqué, eyelet batiste, monkscloth, poplin, velveteen, gabardine, crepe, twill, canvas, percale, balloon cloth, toweling, terry cloth, sailcloth, cheesecloth, shirting, theatrical gauze;

cotton Finance Definition

An agricultural product that is used to produce cloth and cloth-based products. Futures and options are traded on the New York Cotton Exchange (NYCE), which became a subsidiary of the New York Board of Trade in 1998.

cotton Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • mercerise: Made from 100 % fine combed cotton and finished with a fine textured band and hem in mercerised cotton.
  • comb: Made from soft cotton combed terry, they are shaped to give a perfect fit for every baby.
  • weave: They farmed the land as well as spinning and weaving cotton.
  • knit: We love this thick cotton knit with it's luxurious contrasting fringe.

Adjective modifier

  • unbleached: Made from unbleached, pure cotton with a coated wire top.
  • organic: Can see into organic cotton from open cupboard shelves.
  • transgenic: The Indian government revoked the W.R. Grace Corporation's " species patent " on transgenic cotton.
  • insect-protected: The insect-protected cotton is already sold commercially in the United States, China, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, South Africa and Indonesia.
  • Egyptian: Shopping Back to Top Egyptian cotton is said to be the finest in the world.
  • spinning: A cotton-spinning jenny is a machine for spinning cotton.

Modifies a noun

  • wool: Avoid letting cotton wool come in to contact with skin under the blister.
  • bud: Clean the head using a clean cotton bud dipped in drive head cleaner or the cleaner used for tape recorder heads.
  • mill: By 1789 there were no less than 20 water powered cotton mills in the Derwent Valley alone.
  • diaper: How do modern diapers work Caring for cotton diapers is easy Where to buy What types of real diapers are available?
  • velour: There is an attached ' flap out ' booster of one layer of hemp french terry topped with organic cotton velour.
  • sock: Change socks daily or if necessary twice daily, wear cotton socks to absorb perspiration.

Noun used with modifier

  • Bt: GM food excites imagination more than GM cash crops like Bt cotton.
  • non-bt: These have caused 50 to 60 percent damage to Bt cotton, but much less on non-Bt cotton.
  • biotech: Use of the biotech cotton seeds are expected to increase crop yields and farm income and save money spent on pesticide and fertilizer use.
  • jersey: Children's Organic Summer Top £ 8.99 US$17.53 E13.93 Short sleeve organic jersey cotton top.