Fabric filled with foam, feathers, or other padding material make a cushion, which can be used to make something like a chair or sofa more comfortable.
The noun cushion can also refer to anything that is used to soften an impact or absorb shocks. In modern cars, for example, sometimes in a crash or accident, air bags will deploy and act as cushions for the passengers to prevent them from injuring themselves on hard surfaces like the dashboard or steering wheel. A cushion isn't necessarily a physical one, however, as you may want to keep an emergency fund as a cushion in case of unexpected expenses. As a verb, cushion means to protect from the impact of negative information so if you have bad news, you'll want to cushion the blow as much as possible.
1 |
v |
protect from impact
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2 |
n |
a soft bag filled with air or a mass of padding such as feathers or foam rubber etc.
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3 |
n |
the layer of air that supports a hovercraft or similar vehicle
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4 |
n |
a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
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