cotton
♦ cot|ton /k'ɒtən/ (cottons cottoning cottoned)
1 [N-MASS] oft N n
Cotton is a type of cloth made from soft fibres from a particular plant.
...a cotton shirt.
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Cotton is a plant which is grown in warm countries and which produces soft fibres used in making cotton cloth.
...a large cotton plantation in Tennessee.
3 [N-MASS]
Cotton is thread that is used for sewing, especially thread that is made from cotton. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use thread)
There's a needle and cotton there.
4 [N-UNCOUNT]
Cotton or absorbent cotton is a soft mass of cotton, used especially for applying liquids or creams to your skin. (AM; in BRIT, use cotton wool)cot|ton bud (cotton buds)
[N-COUNT]
A cotton bud is a small stick with a ball of cotton wool at each end, which people use, for example, for applying make-up. (BRIT; in AM, use Q-tip)cot|ton can|dy
[N-UNCOUNT]
Cotton candy is a large pink or white mass of sugar threads that is eaten from a stick. It is sold at fairs or other outdoor events. (AM; in BRIT, use candyfloss)cotton on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V P
If you cotton on to something, you understand it or realize it, especially without people telling you about it. (BRIT INFORMAL)
She had already cottoned on to the fact that the nanny was not all she appeared...
It wasn't until he started laughing that they cottoned on!
= catch oncotton to
[PHRASAL VERB] no passive, V P n, V P n
If you cotton to someone or something, you start to like them. (AM INFORMAL)
His style of humor was very human, and that's why people cotton to him...
It seemed to me that I was being shut out of the dialogue and that's something I just don't cotton to.cot|ton wool
[N-UNCOUNT]
Cotton wool is a soft mass of cotton, used especially for applying liquids or creams to your skin. (BRIT; in AM, use cotton)
1 [N-MASS] oft N n
Cotton is a type of cloth made from soft fibres from a particular plant.
...a cotton shirt.
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Cotton is a plant which is grown in warm countries and which produces soft fibres used in making cotton cloth.
...a large cotton plantation in Tennessee.
3 [N-MASS]
Cotton is thread that is used for sewing, especially thread that is made from cotton. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use thread)
There's a needle and cotton there.
4 [N-UNCOUNT]
Cotton or absorbent cotton is a soft mass of cotton, used especially for applying liquids or creams to your skin. (AM; in BRIT, use cotton wool)cot|ton bud (cotton buds)
[N-COUNT]
A cotton bud is a small stick with a ball of cotton wool at each end, which people use, for example, for applying make-up. (BRIT; in AM, use Q-tip)cot|ton can|dy
[N-UNCOUNT]
Cotton candy is a large pink or white mass of sugar threads that is eaten from a stick. It is sold at fairs or other outdoor events. (AM; in BRIT, use candyfloss)cotton on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V P
If you cotton on to something, you understand it or realize it, especially without people telling you about it. (BRIT INFORMAL)
She had already cottoned on to the fact that the nanny was not all she appeared...
It wasn't until he started laughing that they cottoned on!
= catch oncotton to
[PHRASAL VERB] no passive, V P n, V P n
If you cotton to someone or something, you start to like them. (AM INFORMAL)
His style of humor was very human, and that's why people cotton to him...
It seemed to me that I was being shut out of the dialogue and that's something I just don't cotton to.cot|ton wool
[N-UNCOUNT]
Cotton wool is a soft mass of cotton, used especially for applying liquids or creams to your skin. (BRIT; in AM, use cotton)