noun
plural -tons
[noncount] :a soft, white material that grows on the seeds of a tall plant and that is used to make cloth
[count, noncount] :cloth that is made of cotton
[noncount] chiefly Brit :yarn that is made of cotton
[noncount] US :cotton wool
verb
-tons; -toned; -toning
cotton on
[phrasal verb] informal :to begin to understand something :to catch on
cotton to
[phrasal verb]
cotton to (someone or something) US informal :to begin to like someone or something