co s|tume jew|el|lery in AM, use costume jewelry N‑UNCOUNT Costume jewellery is jewellery made from cheap materials.
cos|tum|er /kɒ stjuːmə r / (costumers ) N‑COUNT A costumer is the same as a costumier . [AM ]
cos|tumi|er /kɒstjuː miə r , [AM ] -tuː -/ (costumiers ) N‑COUNT A costumier is a person or company that makes or supplies costumes. [mainly BRIT ] □ …a theatrical costumier. in AM, use costumer
cosy /koʊ zi/ (cosier , cosiest ) in AM, use cozy 1 ADJ A house or room that is cosy is comfortable and warm. □ Downstairs there's a breakfast room and guests can relax in the cosy bar. ● co|si|ly /koʊ z I li/ ADV □ We took time to relax in the cosily-decorated drawing room.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are cosy , you are comfortable and warm. □ They like to make sure their guests are comfortable and cosy. ● co|si|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ He was settled cosily in the corner with an arm round Lynda.
3 ADJ You use cosy to describe activities that are pleasant and friendly, and involve people who know each other well. □ …a cosy chat between friends. ● co|si|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …chatting cosily with friends over coffee.
cot /kɒ t/ (cots )
1 N‑COUNT A cot is a bed for a baby, with bars or panels round it so that the baby cannot fall out. [BRIT ] in AM, use crib 2 N‑COUNT A cot is a narrow bed, usually made of canvas fitted over a frame which can be folded up. [AM ] in BRIT, use camp bed
co t death (cot deaths ) N‑VAR Cot death is the sudden death of a baby while it is asleep, although the baby had not previously been ill. [BRIT ] in AM, use crib death
co|terie /koʊ təri/ (coteries ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A coterie of a particular kind is a small group of people who are close friends or have a common interest, and who do not want other people to join them. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The songs he recorded were written by a small coterie of dedicated writers.
cot|tage ◆◇◇ /kɒ t I dʒ/ (cottages ) N‑COUNT A cottage is a small house, usually in the country. □ They used to have a cottage in N.W. Scotland. □ My sister Yvonne also came to live at Ockenden Cottage with me. COLLOCATIONS cottage NOUN 1
noun + cottage : country, holiday; three-bedroom, two-bedroom
adjective + cottage : stone, terraced, thatched; charming, cosy, pretty, quaint
co t|tage chee se N‑UNCOUNT Cottage cheese is a soft, white, lumpy cheese made from sour milk.
co t|tage i n|dus|try (cottage industries ) N‑COUNT A cottage industry is a small business that is run from someone's home, especially one that involves a craft such as knitting or pottery. [BUSINESS ] □ Bookbinding is largely a cottage industry.
co t|tage loaf (cottage loaves ) N‑COUNT A cottage loaf is a loaf of bread which has a smaller round part on top of a larger round part. [BRIT ]
co t|tage pie (cottage pies ) N‑VAR Cottage pie is a dish which consists of minced meat in gravy with mashed potato on top. [BRIT ]
cot|tag|ing /kɒ t I dʒ I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Cottaging is homosexual activity between men in public toilets. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
cot|ton ◆◇◇ /kɒ t ə n/ (cottons , cottoning , cottoned )
1 N‑VAR [oft N n] Cotton is a type of cloth made from soft fibres from a particular plant. □ …a cotton shirt.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Cotton is a plant which is grown in warm countries and which produces soft fibres used in making cotton cloth. □ …a large cotton plantation in Tennessee.
3 N‑VAR Cotton is thread that is used for sewing, especially thread that is made from cotton. [mainly BRIT ] □ There's a needle and cotton there. in AM, use thread 4 N‑UNCOUNT Cotton or absorbent cotton is a soft mass of cotton, used especially for applying liquids or creams to your skin. [AM ] in BRIT, use cotton wool
▸ cotton on PHRASAL VERB If you cotton on to something, you understand it or realize it, especially without people telling you about it. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V P + to ] She had already cottoned on to the fact that the nanny was not all she appeared. □ [V P ] It wasn't until he started laughing that they cottoned on!
▸ cotton to PHRASAL VERB [no passive] If you cotton to someone or something, you start to like them. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] His style of humor was very human, and that's why people cotton to him. □ [V P n] I was being shut out and that's something I just don't cotton to.
co t|ton bud (cotton buds ) N‑COUNT A cotton bud is a small stick with a ball of cotton wool at each end, which people use, for example, for applying make-up. [BRIT ] in AM, use Q-tip
co t|ton ca n|dy N‑UNCOUNT Cotton candy is a large pink or white mass of sugar threads that is eaten from a stick. It is sold at fairs or other outdoor events. [AM ] in BRIT, use candyfloss
cotton|wood /kɒ t ə nwʊd/ (cottonwoods ) N‑COUNT A cottonwood or a cottonwood tree is a kind of tree that grows in North America and has seeds that are covered with hairs that look like cotton.
co t|ton woo l N‑UNCOUNT Cotton wool is a soft mass of cotton, used especially for applying liquids or creams to your skin. [BRIT ] in AM, use cotton
couch /kaʊ tʃ/ (couches , couching , couched )
1 N‑COUNT A couch is a long, comfortable seat for two or three people.