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absorbent cotton

American

noun

cotton for surgical dressings, cosmetic purposes, etc., made absorbent by removing the natural wax.

absorbent cotton British

noun

a US term for cotton wool

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of absorbent cotton

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They must be a thick absorbent cotton but never terry.

From Los Angeles Times

Each set includes two bath towels, two hand towels and two washcloths in soft, absorbent cotton terry.

From Seattle Times

Paddis replaced absorbent cotton towelling nappies, which had to be washed after each use.

From BBC

Exhausted doctors at Greece's 133 state hospitals cite a lack of staff as well as basic supplies such as absorbent cotton, catheters, gloves and paper used to cover examination beds.

From Reuters

A quantity of bandages, lint, absorbent cotton, etc., completes this essential equipment.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023