cushion
/ˈkʊʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʊʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈku̇-shən/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkʊʃ.ən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʊʃ.ən/ (ame, ipa)
cushion — noun
- cushionsingular
- cushionsplural
1. a soft object filled with foam, feathers, or similar padding, placed on a chair
a soft object filled with foam, feathers, or similar padding, placed on a chair or seat so that sitting or leaning feels more pleasant
Ravindra bought three new cushions for the living room sofa.
countable noun; cushion + for + location
The old cat curled up on a soft cushion by the window.
Anya's grandmother embroidered flowers on every cushion in the house.
These cushions are filled with foam rather than feathers.
文法句型
a/an + cushion
cushion + on/about + place
用法筆記
A cushion is usually smaller and placed on a chair or sofa, while a pillow is larger and used on a bed for the head.
常見錯誤
2. an amount of money, time, or other resource that you keep available to reduce th
an amount of money, time, or other resource that you keep available to reduce the harm when something difficult or unexpected happens
Benjamin kept three months of savings as a cushion against losing his job.
cushion + against + negative event
The insurance policy gave the family a financial cushion after the fire destroyed their home.
Renata's emergency fund served as a cushion during the months when work was slow.
Their big lead gave the team a comfortable cushion in the final minutes.
- buffer
more neutral; used in both physical and abstract contexts
- safety net
stronger implication of preventing complete failure
- reserve
focuses on the stored resource itself, not its protective function
文法句型
a cushion + against + noun
a cushion + of + noun
用法筆記
Frequently combined with adjectives such as financial, comfortable, or safety. The preposition against introduces the potential problem (e.g., a cushion against inflation).
常見錯誤
3. an enclosed region of air or gas that lifts a vehicle or prevents two surfaces f
an enclosed region of air or gas that lifts a vehicle or prevents two surfaces from making contact
The hovercraft moves across water on a cushion of air.
countable singular; cushion of + substance
Engineers designed a cushion of compressed gas to lift the heavy platform.
A thin cushion of water keeps the sliding door from scraping the floor.
Minh watched the hovercraft float on a cushion of air above the river.
- layer
more general; does not imply a protective or lifting function
文法句型
a cushion of + substance (air, gas, water)
用法筆記
This is a technical sense, most commonly found in discussions of hovercraft, air-hockey tables, and some industrial machines.
4. a mechanical piece or material that softens sudden force or stops vibrations fro
a mechanical piece or material that softens sudden force or stops vibrations from traveling through a machine or structure
A rubber cushion between the engine and the frame absorbs most of the vibration.
cushion + location (between X and Y)
Eli placed a rubber cushion under the washing machine to reduce the noise below.
The heavy equipment rests on spring cushions to protect the floor.
Ife added rubber cushions to the machine base to stop it from shaking.
- damper
technical term; specifically reduces oscillation or vibration
- shock absorber
more common in everyday language for vehicles
- buffer
can refer to any mediating object or system
文法句型
a cushion + between/under/on
用法筆記
This is a technical meaning used in engineering contexts. In everyday English, people usually say shock absorber or padding instead.
5. the raised padded border that runs along the sides of a billiard or snooker tabl
the raised padded border that runs along the sides of a billiard or snooker table and makes the balls spring back when they hit it
The ball bounced off the cushion and rolled toward the corner pocket.
preposition phrase: off the cushion
Nellie noticed the rubber cushion on her pool table was starting to wear out.
A skilled player can use the cushion to change the direction of the cue ball.
Élise shot the ball so hard it bounced off two cushions before dropping in.
- rim
general term; not specific to the padded surface that cushions balls
文法句型
the cushion
off the cushion
用法筆記
Only used in the context of billiards, snooker, and pool. Outside these sports, this meaning is unknown to most English speakers.
cushion — verb
- cushionpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cushions3rd person singular
- cushioning-ing form
- cushionedpast simple
1. to make the harmful effects of something — such as a fall, a financial loss, or
to make the harmful effects of something — such as a fall, a financial loss, or bad news — less serious or easier to deal with
The thick carpet cushioned the toddler's fall when she tripped over the rug.
cushion + noun (fall) — physical
Eshe cushioned the fragile vase with layers of bubble wrap before mailing it.
The new tax policy is meant to cushion the blow for families with low incomes.
Hui's savings helped cushion the financial impact of six months without a regular income.
- intensify
to make worse or stronger
文法句型
cushion + noun (blow, impact, fall, loss, effects)
用法筆記
The most common object is blow (cushion the blow). Other frequent objects include fall, impact, loss, shock, and effect(s). The verb is almost always transitive — you cushion something, not just cushion in general.