cotton wool

noun

1. cotton in its raw state, as on the boll or gathered but unprocessed.
2. British. absorbent cotton.

cotton wool

noun

1. Also calledpurified cotton bleached and sterilized cotton from which the gross impurities, such as the seeds and waxy matter, have been removed: used for surgical dressings, tampons, etc Usual US termabsorbent cotton
2. cotton in the natural state
3. informal.
   1. a state of pampered comfort and protection
   2. ( as modifier )

      a cotton-wool existence

Word History and Origins

Origin of cotton wool¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

I put some cotton wool in my mouth and came up with a voice when I was on a train with my brother.

From The Daily Beast

Then rub a little charcoal powder over the pricked pattern with a wad of soft cotton-wool.

From Project Gutenberg

But I would never leave you alone among the relics in their cotton-wool, little Great One.

From Project Gutenberg

Each egg appeared to be larger than a large hogs-head, and was partly embedded in bales of cotton-wool.

From Project Gutenberg

The planter's wife sat over against him, on the other side of the passage, carding home-grown cotton wool with hand cards.

From Project Gutenberg

The heavy clouds had nestled down the mountains, covering them like a huge thickness of wet cotton-wool.

From Project Gutenberg