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Definition of comfort noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

comfort

noun
 
/ˈkʌmfət/
 
/ˈkʌmfərt/
Word Family
  • comfort noun verb
  • comfortable adjective (≠ uncomfortable)
  • comfortably adverb (≠ uncomfortably)
  • comforting adjective
Idioms
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  1. [uncountable] the state of being physically relaxed and free from pain; the state of having a pleasant life, with everything that you need
    • The hotel offers a high standard of comfort and service.
    • I didn't want to leave the comfort of my bed.
    • in comfort They had enough money to live in comfort in their old age.
    • in the comfort of something Watch the latest movies in the comfort of your own home.
    • from the comfort of something From the comfort of your own armchair, you can witness all the action live.
    • for comfort I dress for comfort rather than elegance.
    • These tennis shoes are designed for comfort and performance.
    • He's beginning to find a comfort level with his teammates now.
    Extra Examples
    • He enjoys dangerous sports from the comfort of his couch.
    • I like to travel in reasonable comfort.
    • Learn a new language in the comfort of your own home.
    • They live in modest comfort.
    • a quilted cover for added comfort
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • complete
    • great
    • maximum
    comfort + noun
    • level
    • zone
    preposition
    • for comfort
    • in comfort
    • comfort of
    phrases
    • a degree of comfort
    • a standard of comfort
    • in the comfort of your own home
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable] a feeling of not suffering or worrying so much; a feeling of being less unhappy synonym consolation
    • I tried to offer a few words of comfort.
    • His words were of little comfort in the circumstances.
    • to take comfort from somebody’s words
    • His family can draw some comfort from the fact that the two men accused of his murder have pleaded guilty.
    • We know that they will find comfort in the knowledge that she died doing the job she loved.
    • The announcement of a few new jobs will provide scant comfort to their many recently redundant employees.
    • comfort to somebody If it's any comfort to you, I'm in the same situation.
    Extra Examples
    • I drew comfort from her words.
    • His kind words brought some comfort to the grieving parents.
    • I need all the comfort I can get right now.
    • She found comfort in music.
    • They sought comfort in each other.
    • We took great comfort from the fact that our savings were safe.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • little
    • small
    … of comfort
    • crumb
    • word
    verb + comfort
    • bring somebody
    • give somebody
    • offer somebody
    comfort + noun
    • food
    preposition
    • comfort in
    phrases
    • a source of comfort
    See full entry
  3. [singular] a person or thing that helps you when you are suffering, worried or unhappy
    • Her being with me was such a comfort.
    • comfort to somebody The children have been a great comfort to me through all of this.
    • it is a comfort to do something It's a comfort to know that she is safe.
    • it is a comfort to somebody to do something It was a comfort to her to know that I was never far away.
    • it is a comfort that… In some ways it's a comfort that they died together.
    • it is a comfort to somebody that… It will be a comfort to her family that justice has been done.
    see also cold comfort
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    preposition
    • comfort to
    See full entry
  4. [countable, usually plural] a thing that makes your life easier or more comfortable
    • The hotel has all modern comforts/every modern comfort.
    • material comforts (= money and possessions)
    • She desperately missed her home comforts while camping.
    • He is someone who would take the comforts of home over the bright lights of Hollywood.
    see also creature comforts
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • modern
    • creature
    • home
    See full entry
  5. Word OriginMiddle English (as a noun, in the senses ‘strengthening, support, consolation’; as a verb, in the senses ‘strengthen, give support, console’): from Old French confort (noun), conforter (verb), from late Latin confortare ‘strengthen’, from com- (expressing intensive force) + Latin fortis ‘strong’. The sense ‘something producing physical ease’ arose in the mid 17th cent.
Idioms
too close for comfort
  1. so near that it is uncomfortable or dangerous
    • When she leaves the stage, the fans can get a little too close for comfort.
    • (figurative) They got the win but it was a tight match, definitely too close for comfort.
See comfort in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee comfort in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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noun
 
 
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