couch

couch [kouch]

n.

[ME & OFr couche, a bed, lair: see COUCH the vt.]

1. an article of furniture on which one may sit or lie down; sofa; divan

2. any resting place

3. Old Poet. a place for sleeping; bed

4. Obs. an animal's lair or den

5. Brewing a layer of grain spread to germinate

6. Fine Arts a priming layer or coat, as of paint or varnish

vt.

[ME couchen < OFr coucher, to lie down < L collocare, to lay < com-, together + locare, to place: see LOCAL]

1. to lay or put on or as on a couch, as to sleep: now usually used reflexively or in the passive voice

2. to lower or bring down; esp., to lower (a spear, lance, etc.) to an attacking position

3. to put in specific or particular words; phrase; express [the speech was couched in flowery language]

4. to embroider with thread laid flat and fastened down with fine stitches

5. Archaic to put in a layer

6. Obs. to hide

7. Brewing to spread (grain) in a thin layer to germinate

8. Surgery to remove (a cataract) by using a needle to push down the crystalline lens of the eye

vi.

1. to lie down on a bed, as to sleep; recline

2. to lie in hiding or in ambush

3. to lie in a pile, as decomposing leaves

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☆ on the couch

Informal undergoing psychoanalysis