cotton ball
noun
US
: a small ball of cotton that can be used for a variety of purposes (such as removing makeup or cleaning a wound) and that is usually used once and then thrown away
a bag of cotton balls
Examples of cotton ball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Soak a cotton ball in the mixture, then tuck it into a tree branch.
—
Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
Dab away the oily residue using a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Toners: After cleansing, place a small amount of rice water on a cotton ball and smooth it over your face.
—Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Dec. 2024
Glue a black cotton ball to the top for extra dimension and faux eyes for personality.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2024
Place a few drops of your favorite essential oil on an absorbent material, such as a cotton ball, tissue, or pillowcase.
—Emily Brown, Mph, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2024
Special deodorizing packs or essential oils on a cotton ball would work similarly.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2024
How to clean flat iron, curling iron A cotton ball or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol is the easiest way to clean your flat iron or curling iron.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2024
Space-ready ingredients The lemon flavor in Loke’s team tests was lemon essential oil applied to a cotton ball, which was then placed in a closed container that was kept sealed until it was given to the participants to smell.
—Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, 26 July 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
Dab away the oily residue using a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Toners: After cleansing, place a small amount of rice water on a cotton ball and smooth it over your face.
—Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Dec. 2024
Glue a black cotton ball to the top for extra dimension and faux eyes for personality.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2024
Place a few drops of your favorite essential oil on an absorbent material, such as a cotton ball, tissue, or pillowcase.
—Emily Brown, Mph, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2024
Special deodorizing packs or essential oils on a cotton ball would work similarly.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2024
How to clean flat iron, curling iron A cotton ball or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol is the easiest way to clean your flat iron or curling iron.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2024
Space-ready ingredients The lemon flavor in Loke’s team tests was lemon essential oil applied to a cotton ball, which was then placed in a closed container that was kept sealed until it was given to the participants to smell.
—Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, 26 July 2024
Dictionary Entries Near cotton ball
Cite this Entry
“Cotton ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cotton%20ball. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share