cotton

[ kot-n ]
/ ˈkɒt n /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR cotton ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used without object)

Informal. to get on well together; agree.
Obsolete. to prosper or succeed.

Verb Phrases

cotton (on) to, Informal.
  1. to become fond of; begin to like.
  2. to approve of; agree with: to cotton to a suggestion.
  3. to come to a full understanding of; grasp: More and more firms are cottoning on to the advantages of using computers.

Origin of cotton

1250–1300; Middle English coton < Old French < Old Italian cotone < Arabic qutun, variant of qutn

OTHER WORDS FROM cotton

half-cot·ton, adjective sem·i·cot·ton, noun un·cot·toned, adjective

Words nearby cotton

cotter pin, cotter slot, cottian alps, cottid, cottier, cotton, cotton batting, cotton belt, cotton bollworm, cotton bud, cotton bush

Words related to cotton to

adaptable, consistent, suitable, appropriate, advise, patronize, enjoy, crave, covet, love, like, savor, appreciate, relish, champion, support, advocate, back, accept, encourage

British Dictionary definitions for cotton to (1 of 3)

cotton to

verb (intr, preposition) US and Canadian informal

to become friendly with
to approve of

British Dictionary definitions for cotton to (2 of 3)

cotton
/ (ˈkɒtən) /

noun

any of various herbaceous plants and shrubs of the malvaceous genus Gossypium, such as sea-island cotton, cultivated in warm climates for the fibre surrounding the seeds and the oil within the seeds See also sea-island cotton
the soft white downy fibre of these plants: used to manufacture textiles
cotton plants collectively, as a cultivated crop
  1. a cloth or thread made from cotton fibres
  2. (as modifier)a cotton dress
any substance, such as kapok (silk cotton), resembling cotton but obtained from other plants
See also cotton on, cotton to

Derived forms of cotton

cottony, adjective

Word Origin for cotton

C14: from Old French coton, from Arabic dialect qutun, from Arabic qutn

British Dictionary definitions for cotton to (3 of 3)

Cotton
/ (ˈkɒtən) /

noun

Sir Henry. 1907–87, English golfer: three times winner of the British Open (1934, 1937, 1948)

Cultural definitions for cotton to

cotton to

To take a liking to someone or something: “I was afraid Janet wouldn't like my brother, but she cottoned to him immediately.”

Idioms and Phrases with cotton to

cotton to
1

Take a liking to, get along with, as in This dog doesn't cotton to strangers. Although this verbal phrase comes from the noun for the fabric, the semantic connection between these parts of speech is unclear. [Early 1800s]

2

Also, cotton on to. Come to understand, grasp, as in She didn't really cotton on to what I was saying. [Colloquial; early 1900s]