cot

/kɒt/ (bre, ipa) · /kɑːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkät/ (ame, mw)

cot — noun

  • cotsingular
  • cotsplural

1. a bed with raised sides made for an infant or small child, designed to keep them

1.名詞A2
釋義

a bed with raised sides made for an infant or small child, designed to keep them safely inside during sleep

例句

Sivan has just moved from her cot to a proper bed.

moved from cot to a proper bed (growing up)

Ava lowered the side of the cot to lift her sleepy daughter out.

lowered the side of the cot

同義詞
  • crib

    the standard American English term for the same piece of furniture

  • bassinet

    a smaller, portable baby bed used for newborns only, unlike a cot which lasts until toddlerhood

用法筆記

In American English, this type of bed is called a crib rather than a cot. See also the similar 'travel cot' which folds for portability.

常見錯誤

❌The baby slept in a camp cot' (when meaning a baby bed).
✅The baby slept in her cot.
💡A camp cot (or folding cot) is a different type of bed for adults, not suitable for a baby.

2. a lightweight bed made of a fabric sling stretched across a foldable metal or wo

2.名詞B1
釋義

a lightweight bed made of a fabric sling stretched across a foldable metal or wooden frame, used for camping, in hospitals, or as a spare bed indoors

例句

Vikram unfolded his cot and placed it next to the tent wall.

unfolded his cot (collocation for setting up)

The hospital stored rows of empty cots in the basement for emergencies.

rows of empty cots (hospital context)

同義詞
  • camp bed

    a close synonym in British English; sometimes implies a more solid frame than a cot

  • army cot

    specifically a military-issue folding cot, usually with a metal frame and green canvas

用法筆記

Unlike a camp bed (which often has a solid frame), a cot typically has fabric stretched between the frame rails. This sense is used in both British and American English without variety restriction.

常見錯誤

❌I put the baby in the cot' (when you mean the baby bed).
✅I unfolded the cot for our guest.
💡In American English 'cot' always means a folding bed; use 'crib' for the baby bed.

3. a simple, narrow single bed without much padding, found in places where space is

3.名詞B2
釋義

a simple, narrow single bed without much padding, found in places where space is tight such as a dormitory, ship cabin, or hostel

例句

The student lay on the narrow cot in her dorm room and read a book.

narrow cot in a dorm room

Each ship cabin had two narrow cots fixed to the wall, one above the other.

cots built into the wall (ship context)

同義詞
  • bunk

    a bed built into a wall, often stacked; 'bunk' implies a fixed structure, whereas 'cot' may be movable

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with sense 2 (folding bed), but emphasises the narrowness and simplicity of the bed rather than its foldability. More common in British English than American.

cot — abbreviation