cushion

cush|ion¹ S3 [ˈkuʃən] n

[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: coissin, from Vulgar Latin coxinus, from Latin coxa 'hip']

1.) a cloth bag filled with soft material that you put on a chair or the floor to make it more comfortable

→↑pillow

▪ a velvet cushion

▪ a cushion cover

2.) something that stops one thing from hitting another thing

▪ Good sports shoes should provide a cushion when running.

3.) [usually singular]

something, especially money, that prevents you from being immediately affected by a bad situation

cushion against

▪ Savings can act as a cushion against unemployment.

4.) the soft rubber edge of the table used for playing ↑billiards or ↑snooker

cushion ²

cushion² v [T]

1.) to make the effect of a fall or hit less painful, for example by having something soft in the way

▪ His landing was cushioned by the fresh snow that had fallen.

2.) to protect someone from an unpleasant situation or the unpleasant effects of something

cushion the blow/impact (of sth)

▪ generous leaving allowances to help cushion the blow of redundancy

cushion sb from/against sth

▪ Parents today often feel their children should be cushioned from the outside world.