Word: cushion (noun, verb)

Associations

The word "cushion" can be a noun or a verb.

As a noun, a cushion is a soft bag filled with something like feathers or foam. It is used to make sitting or resting more comfortable.

• Example 1: I bought a new cushion for my chair. (Here, it means a soft pillow to sit on.)
• Example 2: The sofa has colorful cushions. (Soft pillows on a sofa.)
• Example 3: She placed a cushion under her head. (Used to support the head.)

As a verb, "to cushion" means to soften the impact or reduce harm.

• Example 1: The airbags cushioned the blow during the accident. (Reduced the impact.)
• Example 2: He cushioned the fall with his hands. (Helped make the fall less painful.)
• Example 3: The company cushioned the financial loss with insurance. (Reduced or softened the effect.)

Synonym difference: A synonym for the noun "cushion" is "pillow." The main difference is that "pillow" is usually for the head when sleeping, while "cushion" is more often for chairs or decoration.

Substitution

As a noun, you can use:

• pillow (for head or sleeping)
• pad (a soft layer)
• bolster (a long cushion)

As a verb, you can use:

• soften
• absorb
• lessen
• buffer

Each word changes the meaning slightly. For example, "pad" means a flat soft layer, while "bolster" is a long, narrow cushion.

Deconstruction

The word "cushion" comes from Old French "coissin," from Latin "coxa," meaning hip or thigh, because cushions were placed under the hips for comfort.

• "cush-" is the root related to soft padding
• "-ion" is a noun suffix in English, but here "cushion" is a whole word from French origin.

As a verb, it comes from the noun, meaning to make something softer or less hard.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when a cushion made you more comfortable?
• How would you describe the feeling of sitting on a soft cushion versus a hard chair?
• When might you want to "cushion" something in life, like an emotional or physical impact?
• What other objects in your home serve a similar purpose as a cushion?