noun / adjective
cotton
KAH-tuhn/ˈkɑːtn/
A plant producing soft seed fibers used for textiles.
Cotton grows best in warm weather with plenty of sunshine.
Etymology
Arabic qutn named cotton itself, the fiber surrounding the plant’s seeds and used for cloth. The word’s deeper origin is uncertain, though an Egyptian origin has been suggested.
In context
Only second to cotton in favor as a natural fiber, jute is exclusively used in the manufacture of genuine espadrilles.
More examples
- The farmers plant cotton in long, straight rows.
- Ripe cotton bolls split open to reveal soft white fibers.
- She wears a light cotton shirt on hot days.
Forms
cotton
cottony adjective — Soft and fluffy like cotton fibers.