cotton

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Science

n. the plant that produces the white fibers used for making cloth.

n. a plant of the genus Gossypium, grown in warm climates for its fiber-filled seed pods.

“The farmers spent the morning checking the cotton in the fields.”

“Agricultural researchers are developing new varieties of cotton that require significantly less water to thrive in arid regions.”

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun British English

n. a long, thin string of cotton used for sewing.

n. thread spun from cotton fibers, typically wound on a spool for sewing or embroidery.

“I need a reel of blue cotton to fix the hole in my jeans.”

“She selected a spool of mercerized cotton that perfectly matched the shade of the vintage silk lining.”

A2 · Elementary

adj. describes something that is made from cotton fibers.

adj. composed of or relating to cotton; non-gradable.

Español:de algodón

“She prefers wearing cotton socks because they are more comfortable.”

“The museum's collection includes several rare cotton tapestries dating back to the early nineteenth century.”

C1 · Advanced Informal · British English

v. to begin to understand something or to start liking someone.

v. to begin to understand or take a liking to something or someone; usually followed by 'to' or 'on to'.

“It took him a while to cotton on to the fact that they were joking.”

“The public was slow to cotton on to the implications of the new tax policy until the first bills arrived.”