Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense cushions, present participle cushioning, past tense, past participle cushioned
1. countable noun
A cushion is a fabric case filled with soft material, which you put on a seat to make it more comfortable.
...a velvet cushion.
2. countable noun
A cushion is a soft pad or barrier, especially one that protects something.
The company provides a styrofoam cushion to protect the tablets during shipping.
3. verb
Something that cushions an object when it hits something protects it by reducing the force of the impact.
...a giant airbag to cushion your landing. [VERB noun]
The suspension is designed to cushion passengers from the effects of rough roads. [VERB noun + from]
Synonyms: protect, support, pillow, bolster More Synonyms of cushion
4. verb
To cushion the effect of something unpleasant means to reduce it.
He was trying to cushion the blow of this terrible news. [VERB noun]
The price rises will be cushioned by welfare benefits. [VERB noun]
The subsidies are designed to cushion farmers against unpredictable weather. [VERB noun + against]
Synonyms: soften, dampen, muffle, mitigate More Synonyms of cushion
5. countable noun [usually singular]
Something that is a cushionagainst something unpleasant reduces its effect.
Housing benefit provides a cushion against hardship. [+ against]
Synonyms: protection, cover, security, defence More Synonyms of cushion
More Synonyms of cushion
cushion in British English
(ˈkʊʃən)
noun
1.
a bag made of cloth, leather, plastic, etc, filled with feathers, air, or other yielding substance, used for sitting on, leaning against, etc
2.
something resembling a cushion in function or appearance, esp one to support or pad or to absorb shock
3.
the resilient felt-covered rim of a billiard table
4. another name for pillow (sense 2)
5. short for air cushion
6.
a capital, used in Byzantine, Romanesque, and Norman architecture, in the form of a bowl with a square top
verb(transitive)
7.
to place on or as on a cushion
8.
to provide with cushions
9.
to lessen or suppress the effects of
10.
to protect, esp against hardship or change
11.
a.
to check the motion of (a mechanism) gently, esp by the compression of trapped fluid in a cylinder
b.
to provide with a means of absorbing shock
Derived forms
cushiony (ˈcushiony)
adjective
Word origin
from Latin culcita mattress
cushion in American English
(ˈkʊʃən)
noun
1.
a pillow or soft pad for sitting or kneeling on, or reclining against; specif., a removable one forming part of a sofa, chair, etc.
2.
a thing like a cushion in shape, softness, or use, as a small pillow used in lace-making, padding of various sorts, etc.
3.
a fatty or fibrous padlike part of the body
4.
anything serving to absorb shock, as air or steam in some machines, the elastic inner rim of a billiard table, or a soft, padded insole
5.
anything that moderates an adverse effect, relieves a distressing condition, provides comfort, etc.
verb transitive
6.
to provide with a cushion or cushions
7.
a.
to seat or set on a cushion
b.
to prop up with a cushion or cushions
8.
to hide or suppress, as if under a cushion
9.
to absorb (shock or noise)
10.
to act as a cushion, as in protecting from shock or injury, moderating ill effects, relieving distress, etc.
the bush cushioned his fall
Word origin
ME cuisshin < OFr coissin < ML coxinum, altered (after L coxa, hip) < Gallo-Roman *culcinum, for L culcita, cushion, quilt
cushion in Mechanical Engineering
(kʊʃən)
Word forms: (present) cushions, (past) cushioned, (perfect) cushioned, (progressive) cushioning
verb
(Mechanical engineering: Manufacturing and assembly)
Something that cushions a part or object when it hits something protects it by reducing the force of theimpact.
The main function of springs is to cushion the impact of a load.
The engine is cushioned against shock and vibration by rubber mountings.
Something that cushions a part or object when it hits something protects it by reducing the force of theimpact.
cushion in Hospitality
(kʊʃən)
Word forms: (regular plural) cushions
noun
(Hospitality (hotel): Hotel room, bedroom)
A cushion is a fabric case filled with soft material, which you put on a seat to make it morecomfortable.
The chair and sofa have large comfortable cushions.
I arranged some soft cushions on the chairs.
The chairs have linen covers and silk cushions on top.
Examples of 'cushion' in a sentence
cushion
Heike was sitting on the floor in a big white calico dress propped up on a cushion facing me.
Robert Wilson BLOOD IS DIRT (2002)
Heike was back on the cushion, fitting another cigarette into her holder.
Robert Wilson BLOOD IS DIRT (2002)
From the seam where the seat cushion met the back, particles were hissing into the car like black smoke.
Michael Crichton PREY (2002)
Word lists with
cushion
architectural features
In other languages
cushion
British English: cushion /ˈkʊʃən/ NOUN
A cushion is a fabric case filled with soft material, which you put on a seat to make it more comfortable.
...a velvet cushion.
American English: cushion
Arabic: وِسَادَة
Brazilian Portuguese: almofada
Chinese: 坐垫
Croatian: jastuk
Czech: polštář
Danish: pude
Dutch: kussen
European Spanish: cojín
Finnish: tyyny sisustus
French: coussin
German: Kissen
Greek: μαξιλαράκι
Italian: cuscino
Japanese: クッション
Korean: 쿠션
Norwegian: pute
Polish: poduszka
European Portuguese: almofada
Romanian: pernă
Russian: диванная подушка
Latin American Spanish: cojín
Swedish: kudde
Thai: หมอนอิง
Turkish: yastık
Ukrainian: подушка
Vietnamese: đệm
British English: cushion VERB
Something that cushions an object when it hits something protects it by reducing the force of the impact.
There is also a new steering wheel with an energy absorbing rim to cushion the driver's head in the worst impacts.
American English: cushion
Brazilian Portuguese: amortecer
Chinese: 缓冲
European Spanish: amortiguar
French: protéger
German: dämpfen
Italian: fare da cuscinetto a
Japanese: 衝撃を和らげる
Korean: 충격을 완화하다
European Portuguese: amortecer
Latin American Spanish: amortiguar
All related terms of 'cushion'
air cushion
an inflatable cushion , usually made of rubber or plastic
cushion cover
a fabric cover, often with a decorative design, designed to protect a cushion
cushion plant
a type of low-growing plant having many closely spaced short upright shoots , typical of alpine and arctic habitats
floor cushion
a cushion placed on the floor of a room for people to sit on
booster cushion
an extra seat or cushion placed on an existing seat for a child to sit on in a car
cushion capital
a capital, used in Byzantine , Romanesque , and Norman architecture , in the form of a bowl with a square top
scatter cushion
Scatter cushions are small cushions for use on sofas and chairs .
whoopee cushion
a joke cushion that emits a sound like the breaking of wind when someone sits on it
liquidity cushion
a reserve fund of assets held by a company or person
air-cushion vehicle
a vehicle that travels just above the surface of land or water on a cushion of air provided by a downward jet from its engines , propellers , etc.
cottony-cushion scale
a small scale insect , Icerya purchasi, that is a pest of citrus trees in California : it is controlled by introducing an Australian ladybird , Rodolia cardinalis, into affected areas
pincushion
A pincushion is a very small cushion that you stick pins and needles into so that you can get them easily when you need them.
to soften/cushion the blow
Something that softens the blow or cushions the blow makes an unpleasant change or piece of news easier to accept .
soften the blow
to make an unpleasant change or piece of news seem less unpleasant and easier to accept