What is the term used for the act of processing cotton?

Ginning is the correct term for the act of processing cotton. This process involves separating the cotton fibers from the seeds after the cotton has been harvested. It is a crucial step in preparing cotton for further use in the textile industry. During ginning, machinery is used to efficiently remove seeds and other impurities from the raw cotton, which results in clean and usable cotton fibers ready for spinning into yarn.

Harvesting, while related, refers specifically to the act of gathering mature cotton plants from the fields. Combing and spinning are processes that come after ginning — combing involves aligning the fibers and removing short fibers, while spinning is the act of twisting fibers together to create yarn. Each of these terms describes different stages of cotton production, but ginning is distinct as it specifically pertains to the initial processing that prepares cleaned cotton for further refinement.