Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus Gossypium in the mallow family Malvaceae.
The term "cotton" also refers to:
1. The textile made from this fiber
2. Cotton fabric - any fabric woven from cotton yarn
3. A light, casual style of clothing (e.g., "cotton dress")
4. Slang for getting along well with someone ("We really cotton to each other")