cotton
cotton Lexical Profile
cotton Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A soft, fluffy, white staple fiber consisting of nearly pure cellulose that grows in a protective boll around the seeds of certain mallow plants, widely used to manufacture textiles.
"She prefers to wear shirts made of pure cotton during the hot summer months."
Any of various shrubby plants of the mallow family (genus Gossypium) native to tropical and subtropical regions, cultivated for the downy fiber surrounding their seeds.
"The farmers in the southern delta rely heavily on cotton as their primary cash crop."
• verb
To begin to understand, realize, or perceive the meaning of a situation (usually followed by 'on').
"It took him a few minutes to cotton on to the fact that they were throwing a surprise party for him."
To take a liking to someone or something, or to agree with an idea (usually followed by 'to').
"The new rescue dog quickly cottoned to the children and followed them everywhere."
• Rhymes for cotton
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'coton', borrowed from Old French 'coton', which ultimately derives from the Arabic word 'quṭn'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.