- 1(also pillow) a cloth bag filled with soft material or feathers that is used, for example, to make a seat more comfortable matching curtains and cushions a floor cushion (= a large cushion that you put on the floor to sit on) (figurative) a cushion of moss on a rock
- 2a layer of something between two surfaces that keeps them apart A hovercraft rides on a cushion of air. Underlay forms a cushion between the carpet and the floor, to minimize wear.
- 3[usually singular] cushion (against something) something that protects you against something unpleasant that might happen His savings were a comfortable cushion against financial problems. The team built up a safe cushion of twenty points in the first half.
- 4(in the game of billiards, etc.) the soft inside edge along each side of the table that the balls bounce off
Check pronunciation: cushion