Cotton vs. Flax — What's the Difference?

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 fiber is almost pure cellulose.

Flax, also known as common flax or linseed, is a flowering plant, Linum usitatissimum, in the family Linaceae. It is cultivated as a food and fiber crop in regions of the world with temperate climate.

Any of various shrubby plants of the genus Gossypium, having showy flowers and grown for the soft white downy fibers surrounding oil-rich seeds.

A widely cultivated plant, Linum usitatissimum, having pale blue flowers, seeds that yield linseed oil, and slender stems from which a textile fiber is obtained.

The fiber of any of these plants, used in making textiles and other products.

The fine, light-colored textile fiber obtained from this plant.

Thread or cloth manufactured from the fiber of these plants.

Any of various other plants of the genus Linum or of other genera in the family Linaceae.

Any of various soft downy substances produced by other plants, as on the seeds of a cottonwood.

A pale grayish yellow.

To take a liking; attempt to be friendly

A plant of the genus Linum, especially Linum usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. Also known as linseed, especially when referring to the seeds.

To come to understand. Often used with to or onto

The fibers of Linum usitatissimum, grown to make linen and related textiles.

Gossypium, a genus of plant used as a source of cotton fiber.

The flax bush, a plant of the genus Phormium, native to New Zealand, with strap-like leaves up to 3 metres long that grow in clumps.

Any plant that encases its seed in a thin fiber that is harvested and used as a fabric or cloth.

A plant of the genus Linum, esp. the L. usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fiber of the bark is used for making thread and cloth, called linen, cambric, lawn, lace, etc. Linseed oil is expressed from the seed.

Any fiber similar in appearance and use to Gossypium fiber.

The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken and cleaned by hatcheling or combing.

(textiles) The textile made from the fiber harvested from a cotton plant, especially Gossypium.

Fiber of the flax plant that is made into thread and woven into linen fabric

(countable) An item of clothing made from cotton.

Plant of the genus Linum that is cultivated for its seeds and for the fibers of its stem

Made of cotton.

(transitive) To provide with cotton.

To supply with a cotton wick.

To fill with a wad of cotton.

(horticulture) To wrap with a protective layer of cotton fabric.

To cover walls with fabric.

(tar and cotton) To cover with cotton bolls over a layer of tar (analogous to tar and feather )

To make or become cotton-like

To raise a nap, providing with a soft, cottony texture.

To develop a porous, cottony texture.

To give the appearance of being dotted with cotton balls.

To enshroud with a layer of whiteness.

To protect from harsh stimuli, coddle, or muffle.

To rub or burnish with cotton.

To get on with someone or something; to have a good relationship with someone.

A soft, downy substance, resembling fine wool, consisting of the unicellular twisted hairs which grow on the seeds of the cotton plant. Long-staple cotton has a fiber sometimes almost two inches long; short-staple, from two thirds of an inch to an inch and a half.

The cotton plant. See Cotten plant, below.

Cloth made of cotton.

To rise with a regular nap, as cloth does.

To go on prosperously; to succeed.

To unite; to agree; to make friends; - usually followed by with.

To take a liking to; to stick to one as cotton; - used with to.

Silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state

Fabric woven from cotton fibers

Erect bushy mallow plant or small tree bearing bolls containing seeds with many long hairy fibers

Thread made of cotton fibers

Take a liking to;