The act of understanding something suddenly or liking someone; or the process of processing cotton.
Present participle of 'cotton,' which has two origins: one meaning the plant/fiber (from Arabic qutun), and another meaning 'to understand' (possibly from cotton being woven together tightly, implying connection).
The British phrase 'cottoning to' someone means liking them—it likely comes from how cotton fibers stick together naturally, just like people who get along!
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