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cotswold: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low
UK/ˈkɒtswəʊld/US/ˈkɑːtswoʊld/

Formal/Technical (when referring to sheep breed); Geographic/Descriptive (when referring to the region).

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Quick answer

What does “cotswold” mean?

A breed of sheep with long, curly wool, originally from the Cotswold Hills area of England.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A breed of sheep with long, curly wool, originally from the Cotswold Hills area of England.

Also refers to the region of Cotswold Hills in west-central England, known for its picturesque limestone villages and rolling hills; by extension, can describe the characteristic wool or stone from that region.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

In the UK, 'Cotswold' is a well-known geographic and cultural region. In the US, it is primarily known among farmers (as a sheep breed), historians, or travelers.

Connotations

UK: Heritage, tourism, rural beauty, traditional architecture. US: Specialist agricultural term or a niche travel destination.

Frequency

Significantly more frequent in UK English due to direct geographic and cultural relevance.

Grammar

How to Use “cotswold” in a Sentence

Proper noun used attributively (e.g., Cotswold stone)Part of a compound noun (e.g., Cotswold sheep)

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Cotswold sheepCotswold stoneCotswold Hillsthe Cotswolds
medium
Cotswold woolCotswold breedCotswold villagevisit the Cotswolds
weak
Cotswold landscapeCotswold architectureCotswold farmer

Examples

Examples of “cotswold” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The cottage was built from distinctive Cotswold stone.
  • They enjoyed a classic Cotswold weekend.

American English

  • The farm specialised in Cotswold sheep.
  • The fabric was made from Cotswold wool.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare, except in niche sectors like tourism ('Cotswold holiday cottages') or specialty wool trade.

Academic

Used in geography, agricultural history, and breed studies.

Everyday

In the UK, in travel/tourism contexts. Elsewhere, very rare.

Technical

Primarily in animal husbandry and livestock breeding documents.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “cotswold”

Strong

Cotswold Lion (historical nickname for the sheep)

Neutral

longwool sheep (for the breed)limestone region (for the area)

Weak

woolly breedEnglish hills

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “cotswold”

hair sheep (sheep breed without wool)urban area

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “cotswold”

  • Using it as a countable common noun (e.g., 'three cotswolds').
  • Misspelling as 'Cotswolds' when referring to the sheep breed singularly.
  • Pronouncing the 'w' as strongly separate (/kɒts-wəʊld/ instead of /ˈkɒtswəʊld/).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It is primarily a proper noun (the name of a place and a breed). When used as a common noun, it refers specifically to an individual sheep of that breed.

In British English, it's /ˈkɒtswəʊld/ (KOTS-wohld). In American English, it's /ˈkɑːtswoʊld/ (KAHTZ-wohld). The 'w' is soft, and the 'l' is pronounced.

'Cotswold' typically refers to the singular breed of sheep or is used adjectivally. 'The Cotswolds' (plural, with 'the') is the standard way to refer to the geographic region of hills and villages.

No, 'Cotswold' is not used as a verb in standard English.

A breed of sheep with long, curly wool, originally from the Cotswold Hills area of England.

Cotswold is usually formal/technical (when referring to sheep breed); geographic/descriptive (when referring to the region). in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “None”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine COTS for baby beds made from the soft wool of WOLD (an old word for hills) sheep.

Conceptual Metaphor

Not applicable for this proper noun/common noun hybrid.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The picturesque villages of the are a popular tourist destination in the UK.
Multiple Choice

What is a 'Cotswold' primarily?