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English Words Starting With C

13,732 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

cotter slot
nounVery Low (specialized technical term)
/ˈkɒtə slɒt/A narrow, rectangular slot in a shaft or rod, designed to receive a cotter pin or key that prevents rotational movement between components.
cottian alps
plural-nounRare / Technical
/ˈkɒtiən ælps/A mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps, straddling the border between France and Italy.
cottid
nounVery Low
/ˈkɒtɪd/A fish belonging to the family Cottidae; a sculpin.
cottier
nounVery low (archaic/historical)
/ˈkɒtɪə/A tenant farmer or agricultural labourer who rents a small cottage and a plot of land, typically in Ireland or Scotland, often paying rent through labour rather than money.
cotton
nounverb-intransitiveB2
/ˈkɒt.n̩/A soft, white, fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of a tropical and subtropical plant (Gossypium), used to make textiles and thread.
cotton ball
nounB1
/ˈkɒtn̩ ˌbɔːl/A small, fluffy, soft ball of cotton, typically used for applying or removing cosmetics, cleaning small areas, or for first aid.
cotton batting
nounLow to Medium (Specialized)
/ˌkɒtn̩ ˈbætɪŋ/A soft, thick layer of cotton fibres, often rolled or sold in sheets, used for stuffing, padding, or insulation.
cotton belt
nounLow to Medium
/ˈkɒtn bɛlt/A geographic region in the southeastern United States where cotton is grown as a major agricultural crop.
cotton bollworm
nounLow
/ˌkɒt.ən ˈbɒl.wɜːm/The larva of the moth Helicoverpa armigera (and closely related species) that bores into and feeds on the fruit (bolls) of cotton plants.
cotton bud
nounB1
/ˈkɒt.ən ˌbʌd/A short, thin stick with a small, padded cotton swab at one or both ends, primarily used for personal hygiene or applying/removing small amounts of a substance.
cotton bush
nounLow
/ˈkɒt.ən ˌbʊʃ/A shrub or small tree belonging to the genus Gossypium or related species, bearing bolls of cotton fibre.
cotton cake
nounLow
/ˈkɒt.ən keɪk/A type of very light, airy, and fluffy sponge cake, with a texture likened to cotton.
cotton candy
nounB1
/ˈkɒtn̩ ˌkændi/A sweet confection of spun sugar, typically served on a stick or in a paper cone, resembling cotton wool in appearance.
cotton flannel
nounB1
/ˈkɒt.ən ˈflæn.əl/A soft, warm fabric made from cotton, often with a brushed or napped surface.
cotton gin
nounLow
/ˌkɒtn̩ ˈdʒɪn/A machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that quickly and efficiently separates cotton fibers from their seeds.
cotton grass
nounC2
/ˈkɒt.ən ˌɡrɑːs/A type of sedge plant (genus Eriophorum) found in bogs and tundra, known for its white, fluffy, cotton-like seed heads.
cotton gum
nounVery Low
/ˈkɒt.ən ɡʌm/A deciduous tree (Nyssa aquatica) native to the southeastern United States, growing in swamps and along rivers.
cotton mill
nounB2
/ˈkɒt.ən ˌmɪl/A factory building housing machinery for spinning cotton fibre into yarn or weaving it into cloth.
cotton on
verbC1
/ˌkɒt.ən ˈɒn/To begin to understand or realize something; to catch on.
cotton picker
nounMedium (for machine); Very Low (archaic for person); Extremely Offensive and Taboo (as slur).
/ˌkɒtn̩ ˈpɪkə/A person who harvests cotton by hand or a machine used for mechanically harvesting cotton.

Showing 11041–11060 of 13732 words.