- comfort
- com|fort1 W3 [ˈkʌmfət US -ərt] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(physical)¦2¦(emotional)¦3¦(somebody/something that helps)¦4¦(money/possessions)¦5 comforts6 too close/near for comfort7 cold/small comfort▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1.) ¦(PHYSICAL)¦[U]a feeling of being physically relaxed and satisfied, so that nothing is hurting you, making you feel too hot or cold etc→↑comfortable, discomfort ↑discomfortbuilt/made/designed for comfort▪ All our sports shoes are designed for comfort and performance.too hot/high/tight etc for comfort(=physically unpleasant for a particular reason)▪ The temperature was too low for comfort.▪ I dress for comfort, not fashion.▪ Alan was very reluctant to leave the warmth and comfort of the fire.in comfort▪ Upstairs is a more intimate bar where guests can relax in comfort.▪ Now you can watch your favorite movies in the comfort of your own home.2.) ¦(EMOTIONAL)¦[U]if someone or something gives you comfort, they make you feel calmer, happier, or more hopeful after you have been worried or unhappy▪ Whenever he was upset, he would turn to her for comfort and advice.give/bring/provide/offer comfort▪ a book which offers comfort and help to the parents of children with cancer▪ The knowledge that Cara was safe gave him some comfort.great/much/little comfort▪ My faith has been a source of great comfort over the years.take/draw/derive comfort from (doing) sth▪ He drew comfort from her warm support.find/take comfort in (doing) sth▪ You can take some comfort in the fact that you did your best.it's no/some comfort▪ It was no comfort to think he might be as frightened as she was.if it's any comfort(=used to introduce a statement that you think may make someone feel slightly less worried or unhappy)▪ Well, if it's any comfort, I don't think he'll try again.3.) ¦(SOMEBODY/SOMETHING THAT HELPS)¦someone or something that helps you feel calmer, happier, or more hopeful after you have been worried or unhappy→↑comforting be a comfort (to sb)▪ Louisa's been a great comfort to me since Mary died.▪ It's a comfort to know there's someone to keep an eye on the kids.4.) ¦(MONEY/POSSESSIONS)¦[U]a way of living in which you have all the money and possessions that you need or want→↑comfortable in comfort▪ When Dad died, he left us both enough to live in comfort for the rest of our lives.▪ He was used to a life of comfort.5.) comforts [plural]the things that make your life nicer and more comfortable, especially things that are not necessary▪ Modern caravans really do offer all the comforts of home.▪ hotels with all the modern comforts (=things such as a television, telephone etc)material comforts(=money and possessions)6.) too close/near for comfortsomething that is too close for comfort makes you feel worried, unhappy, or uncomfortable, because it is dangerous in some way▪ The cars were whizzing past us much too close for comfort.7.) cold/small comforta small piece of good news that does not make you feel better about a bad situationcold/small comfort for/to▪ Another drop in the inflation rate was cold comfort yesterday for the 2.74 million jobless.comfort 2comfort2 v [T][Date: 1100-1200; : Old French; Origin: conforter, from Late Latin confortare 'to strengthen', from Latin com- ( COM-) + fortis 'strong']to make someone feel less worried, unhappy, or upset, for example by saying kind things to them or touching them▪ Within hours of the news, Helen was on the telephone trying to comfort her heartbroken friend.▪ He longed to take her in his arms and comfort her.▪ Mr Aston's father was last night being comforted by relatives.comfort yourself▪ She comforted herself with the thought that it would soon be spring.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
