cotton
word
/ˈkɑtən/
KAH-duhn
/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: algodónPortuguese (BR): algodãoPortuguese (PT): algodãoChinese (Simplified): 棉 - 棉花Chinese (Traditional): 棉 - 棉花Hindi: कपास - सूती कपड़ाArabic: قُطْن - قماش قطنيBengali: কাপড় - তুলাRussian: хлопокJapanese: 綿（めん）Vietnamese: bôngKorean: 면Turkish: pamukUrdu: روئی - کپاسIndonesian: katun
Example Sentences
This shirt is made of cotton.
basic
Check the label—this one is 100% cotton.
natural
These sheets are soft, but they’re not pure cotton.
natural
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