cotton wool
Raw plant fiber padding
Cotton wool is soft, fluffy fiber prepared from raw cotton, used for padding, wound dressing, and applying cosmetics.
In American English, this is usually called a cotton ball or absorbent cotton.
To wrap someone in cotton wool is to overprotect them from life's difficulties: Stop wrapping the kids in cotton wool—they need to learn from their mistakes.
Soft and light-textured
- softYielding to touch
- downyHaving soft, fine texture
- wispyThin and insubstantial
- airyLight and well-ventilated
billowy · feathery · puff · tuft · light · woolly · fuzzy · gossamer
Open-weave medical fabric
- bandageWound covering strip
- swabAbsorbent cleaning implement
- dressingSauce for salads
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
sterile · surgical · disinfectant · aseptic · cleansing · sterilize · sanitary · padding
Kept safe from harm
- overprotectedGuarded to excess
- coddledExcessively sheltered or indulged
- pamperedLavished with indulgence
- cushionedMade softer or gentler
shielded · insulated · mollycoddled · cossetted · babied
Plant seed pod
- ginningProcessing raw cotton
- lintLoose textile fibers
- stapleBasic dietary necessity
- plantationLarge-scale farming operation
harvest · spinning · textile · thread · yarn · muslin · weaving · fabric
fluffy
Soft and light-textured
airy · billowy · feathery · puff · tuft · light · woolly · fuzzy · gossamer · delicate
gauze
Open-weave medical fabric
antiseptic · sterile · surgical · disinfectant · aseptic · cleansing · sterilize · sanitary · padding · absorbent
sheltered
Kept safe from harm
- overprotectedGuarded to excess
- coddledExcessively sheltered or indulged
- pamperedLavished with indulgence
cushioned · shielded · insulated · mollycoddled · cossetted · babied
boll
Plant seed pod
plantation · harvest · spinning · textile · thread · yarn · muslin · weaving · fabric · mercerization
makeup-remover
Dissolves applied cosmetics
- padsCushioned protective layers
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
- tonerImaging powder or facial astringent
applicator · skincare · beauty · sponges · facial · wipes · exfoliant · moisturizer · micellar · lotion
- gentle handlingcradling, cushioning, padding, wrapping, swaddling
- medical suppliesbandage, gauze, latex gloves, syringe, nitrile gloves
- NHSNHS, GP, A&E, 999, 111
- bandagesbandage, gauze, adhesive bandage, dressing, Band-Aid
- growing mediapotting mix, potting soil, garden soil, perlite, vermiculite
- overparentinghelicopter parenting, helicopter parent, overprotective, overprotection, overprotecting
cotton woolharsh reality
Uncomfortable actual circumstances
school of hard knocks · tough love · sink or swim · trial by fire · baptism of fire