Definition of “cushion” - English Dictionary

American
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“cushion” in English

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cushionnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /ˈkʊʃ.ən/ us ​ /ˈkʊʃ.ən/

cushion noun [ C ] (SOFT THING)

B1 US also pillow a bag made of cloth, plastic, or leather that is filled with soft material, often has an attractive cover, and is used especially on chairs for sitting or leaning on:

She sank back against/into the cushions.
See also
pincushion
cushion of air

› a layer of air often used to support a machine or vehicle:

A hovercraft travels on a cushion of air.

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Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

cushionverb [ T ]

uk ​ /ˈkʊʃ.ən/ us ​ /ˈkʊʃ.ən/

Idiom(s)

cushion the blow

(Definition of “cushion” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“cushion” in American English

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cushionnoun [ C ]

us ​ /ˈkʊʃ·ən/

› a large, usually square bag filled with soft material, used as a movable part of a chair or sofa, for sitting on or resting your back against, or a similar but smaller bag used to make yourself more comfortable while sitting:

She sank back against the sofa cushions.

cushionverb [ T ]

us ​ /ˈkʊʃ·ən/

› to soften or protect someone or something from the effects of a fall, moving too quickly into something, sitting or lying on a hard object, etc.:

The soft grass cushioned his fall (= made it hurt less).

(Definition of “cushion” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“cushion” in Business English

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cushionverb [ T ]

uk ​ /ˈkʊʃən/ us ​

› to make the effect or force of something less severe:

For two years subsidies have cushioned the impact of accelerating inflation.
cushion sb/sth against sth Governments can use fiscal policy to cushion the economy against future recessions.
cushion the blow

› to make a bad situation less severe:

Earnings expectations are worsening, but interest rates are not expected to fall to cushion the blow.

cushionnoun [ C usually singular ]

uk ​ /ˈkʊʃən/ us ​

› something that makes the effects of a bad situation less severe:

You should aim to build up a cushion of three months' income in your savings account, for emergencies.

(Definition of “cushion” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of “cushion”
 
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