cotton — a soft white fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of a tropical plant, used to make cloth or thread
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a soft white fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of a tropical plant, used to make cloth or thread
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkɑːtən/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother still picks cotton by hand like it's 1850.
- Cotton is breathable and perfect for hot summer days.
- He's living in high cotton since he got that promotion.
cotton
NOUN[/ˈkɑːtən/]
a soft white fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of a tropical plant, used to make cloth or thread
She picks soft cotton bolls from the sunlit field at harvest time.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Cotton derives from Arabic 'qutn' (cotton plant), which passed through Old French 'coton' before entering English. The term was transmitted to European languages during the Crusades, when Western traders first encountered this exotic plant fiber in the Middle East.
Breakdown
Arabic qutn (cotton plant) → Old French coton → Middle English cotton. The root qutn remained largely unchanged through linguistic transmission, maintaining its original sense of the cotton fiber and plant.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother still picks cotton by hand like it's 1850.”
“Cotton is breathable and perfect for hot summer days.”
“He's living in high cotton since he got that promotion.”
“The cotton industry revolutionized the American South.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.