cotton plant
Definition
Noun: 1. A plant of the genus Gossypium: An erect, bushy shrub or small tree belonging to the mallow family (Malvaceae). It is cultivated for the protective, fibrous bolls that surround its seeds. These long, hairy fibers are the primary source of commercial cotton.
Usage
The term "cotton plant" specifically refers to the living botanical organism. It is used to distinguish the plant itself from the harvested product (cotton fiber or lint) or the finished textile material. - The farmer cultivated several acres of cotton plant. - Understanding the lifecycle of the cotton plant is essential for agriculture. - The cotton plant requires a long, warm growing season.
Advanced Usage
- Botanical Context: In scientific or agricultural writing, "cotton plant" is used to discuss the plant's biology, cultivation, pests, and diseases.
- The study focused on the drought resistance of the cotton plant.
- Historical/Economic Context: It can be used when discussing the historical or economic importance of the crop.
- The economy of the region was built on the cotton plant.
Variants and Related Words
- Cotton (noun): This is the more common term but is polysemous. It can refer to:
- The soft, white fibrous substance (lint) harvested from the plant's bolls.
- The thread or fabric made from these fibers.
- Informally, it can also refer to the plant itself (e.g., "a field of cotton").
- Gossypium (noun): The Latin genus name for all cotton plants.
- Cotton boll (noun): The rounded seed capsule of the cotton plant.
Synonyms
- Cotton bush (chiefly Australian)
- Cotton shrub
Related Phrases/Idioms
- (The term "cotton plant" itself is technical and is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. Idioms typically use the product "cotton".)
- To be in tall cotton: (Idiom using "cotton") To be very successful or prosperous.
- To cotton on to something: (Phrasal verb using "cotton") To begin to understand or like something.
Noun
-
erect bushy mallow plant or small tree bearing bolls containing seeds with many long hairy fibers
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