cushion

[ koosh-uhn ]

noun

1. a soft bag of cloth, leather, or rubber, filled with feathers, air, foam rubber, etc., on which to sit, kneel, or lie.

   Synonyms: pad

2. anything similar in form, used to dampen shocks or to prevent excessive pressure or chafing.
3. something to absorb or counteract a shock, jar, or jolt, as a body of air or steam.

   Synonyms: shock absorber

4. something that lessens the effects of hardship, distress, or the like:

   His inheritance was a cushion against unemployment.

5. Anatomy, Zoology. any part or structure resembling a cushion.
6. the resilient raised rim encircling the top of a billiard table.
7. a pad worn under the hair by women.
8. a portion of a radio or television script that can be adjusted in length or cut out altogether in order to end the program on time.
9. Ice Hockey, Canadian. the iced surface of a rink.
10. a pillow used in lacemaking.
11. a leather pad on which gold leaf is placed preparatory to gilding.

verb (used with object)

1. to place on or support by a cushion.
2. to furnish with a cushion or cushions.
3. to cover or conceal with, or as if with, a cushion.
4. to lessen or soften the effects of:

   to cushion the blow to his pride.

5. to suppress (complaints, lamentations, etc.) by quietly ignoring.
6. to check the motion of (a piston or the like) by a cushion, as of steam.
7. to form (steam or the like) into a cushion.

cushion

/ 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
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

1. to place on or as on a cushion
2. to provide with cushions
3. to lessen or suppress the effects of
4. to protect, esp against hardship or change
5. 1. to check the motion of (a mechanism) gently, esp by the compression of trapped fluid in a cylinder
   2. to provide with a means of absorbing shock

Derived Forms

• ˈcushiony, adjective

Other Words From

• cushion·less adjective
• cushion·like adjective
• un·cushioned adjective
• well-cushioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cushion¹

1300–50; Middle English cuisshin < Anglo-French; Middle French coussin ≪ Latin cōx ( a ) hip + -īnus -ine ¹; coxa

Word History and Origins

Origin of cushion¹

from Latin culcita mattress

Synonym Study

Cushion, pillow, bolster agree in being cases filled with a material more or less resilient, intended to be used as supports for the body or parts of it. A cushion is a soft pad used to sit, lie, or kneel on, or to lean against: cushions on a sofa; cushions on pews in a church. A pillow is a bag or case filled with feathers, down, or other soft material, usually to support the head: to sleep with a pillow under one's head. A bolster is a firm pillow, long enough to extend the width of a bed and used as head support, with or without a pillow.

Example Sentences

"He did most of the improvements, from the curtains to the cushion covers. Losing the house broke his heart more than anyone else's," she says.

From BBC

Among other issues, he will now have a voice shaping pending rules that set how much cash banks must keep on hand as financial cushion.

From BBC

It was then a case of Gunners dominance as they looked for a third and a two-goal cushion, and it eventually came in the 85th minute through an Henry stunner.

From BBC

From below the Marvel Stadium stage, a crew member extends his arms to cushion Martin’s fall.

From Los Angeles Times

The sock also has maximum cushion, which also makes it cozy to wear around the house.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buffer
• headrest
• mat

More About Cushion

What does cushion mean?

The word cushion most commonly refers to a soft object used to pad a surface or make it more comfortable to sit, stand, kneel, lie, or rest your head on.

Couches have cushions that you sit on. A seat cushion is the kind on top of the seat of a chair. Pillows, mats, and pads are kinds of cushions. Cushions typically consist of a soft material filled with a soft or spongy substance, such as foam, feathers, or air (as in an air cushion)—anything that yields to pressure instead of remaining completely hard or firm.

Example: The stuffing in these cushions needs to be replaced—look how flat they are.

Another word for padding is cushioning. Something that has had a cushion or cushioning added to it can be described as cushioned. Something that is soft and comfortable like a cushion can be described as cushiony, as in Wow, this mattress is so soft and cushiony!

As a noun, cushion can also be used in a figurative way to refer to a kind of buffer—something that helps to lessen the impact of negative circumstances or serves to delay such circumstances. An extra bit of money in your bank account for emergencies could be called a cushion.

Cushion can also be used as a verb meaning to add cushions to or support with a cushion. It is commonly used in a more figurative way meaning to soften or lessen the impact of something. The mats used by gymnasts are intended to cushion their falls.

In a literal sense, the verb phrase cushion the blow means to absorb the force from a strike, such as a punch, and lessen its effect. It is commonly used in a more figurative way, in which blow refers to the negative impact or consequences of something, as in I know the kids will be disappointed that the party is cancelled, but hopefully ice cream will cushion the blow.

Where does cushion come from?

The first records of the word cushion come from the 1300s. It’s thought to ultimately come from the Latin coxīnum, a combination of cōx(a), meaning “hip,” and the Latin suffix -īnus. It’s not entirely clear how a word meaning “hip” led to the word cushion, but the same suffix appears in the Latin word pulvīnus, which means “cushion” and is the root of the word pillow.

Sofa cushions are known as the hiding place of loose change and lost remotes and smartphones that have fallen between them. These cushions are usually the kind that are loose, but many pieces of furniture have cushions that are attached.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to cushion?

• cushioned (past tense verb, adjective)
• cushiony (adjective)
• uncushioned (adjective)

What are some synonyms for cushion?

• pad
• pillow
• mat
• buffer
• soften
• dampen

What are some words that share a root or word element with cushion? 

• air cushion

What are some words that often get used in discussing cushion?

• soft
• sofa
• couch
• seat
• chair
• arm
• blow
• fall
• pin
• padding

 

 

How is cushion used in real life?

Cushion is commonly used as both a noun and a verb and in both literal and figurative senses.

After 17 hours of flipping the house upside down looking for my lost phone @catrific sits on our armchair and finds it under the cushion ..😐

— Phil Lester (@AmazingPhil) August 9, 2015

.@RBI and the Bank of Japan are said to have formalised the $75- billion swap agreement, which would act as a cushion against any sharp swings in the local currency whenever the international financial markets turn volatile https://t.co/mtyqViEaMT

— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) February 23, 2019

Today it was so hot and humid during practice I was sweating out of my shoes, and slipped on my own sweat (I’m fine, my butt cushioned my fall 😂) #floridathings

— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) July 31, 2020

Try using cushion!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym for cushion?

A. pillow

B. pad

C. board

D. mat