Cotton Meaning in English

word

US

/ˈkɑtən/

KAH-duhn

UK

/kˈɒtən/

KO-tuhn

Definition

A soft natural fiber that grows around the seeds of a plant and is used to make cloth, thread, and many everyday products. It can also mean fabric made from this fiber.

Usage & Nuances

Often used as both an uncountable material noun ('made of cotton') and a modifier ('cotton shirt', 'cotton ball'). Common collocations include '100% cotton', 'cotton fabric', and 'cotton wool' (especially British English).

• Spanish: algodón
• Portuguese (BR): algodão
• Portuguese (PT): algodão
• Chinese (Simplified): 棉 - 棉花
• Chinese (Traditional): 棉 - 棉花
• Hindi: कपास - सूती कपड़ा
• Arabic: قُطْن - قماش قطني
• Bengali: কাপড় - তুলা
• Russian: хлопок
• Japanese: 綿（めん）
• Vietnamese: bông
• Korean: 면
• Turkish: pamuk
• Urdu: روئی - کپاس
• Indonesian: katun

Example Sentences

This shirt is made of cotton.

basic

She bought some cotton for the clinic.

basic

Cotton grows in warm places.

basic

I only wear cotton in the summer because it feels cooler.

natural

Check the label—this one is 100% cotton.

natural

These sheets are soft, but they’re not pure cotton.

natural