- bed
- bed [bed]n.[ME & OE < IE base * bhedh-, to dig > Ger bett, L fossa, ditch, W bedd, Bret béz, a grave; orig. sense “a sleeping hollow in the ground”]1. a thing for sleeping or resting on; specif., a piece of furniture consisting usually of a bedstead, bedspring, mattress, and bedding2. BEDSTEAD3. BEDTIME4. any place used for sleeping or reclining5. such a place regarded as the scene of sexual intercourse or procreation6.a) a plot of soil where plants are raisedb) the flowers or vegetables growing in this7.a) the bottom of a river, lake, etc.b) a place on the ocean floor where something grows in abundance [oyster bed]8. an enclosing substance, as rock in which shells, minerals, etc. are lodged9. any flat surface used as a foundation or support, as the earth, gravel, etc. under the rails and ties of a railroad10.a) a layer of cement or mortar in which stone or brick is laidb) the underside of a brick, slate, or tile11. a pile or heap resembling a bed, esp. in softness or shape [a bed of leaves]12. a geologic layer; stratum [a bed of coal ]☆ 13. the flat surface on which cargo is placed, as in a pickup or flatbedvt.bedded, bedding1. to provide with a sleeping place2. to put to bed3. to have sexual intercourse with4. to fix or place firmly; embed5. to plant or arrange in a bed of earth6. to make (earth) into a bed for plants7. to lay out flat like a bed; arrange in layersvi.1. to go to bed; rest; sleep2. to form in layers; stratify——————be brought to bed of or be brought to bedArchaic to give birth (to)——————bed and board1. sleeping accommodations and meals2. home; the married state——————☆ bed downto prepare and use a sleeping place——————get up on the wrong side of the bedto be cross or grouchy——————put to bed1. to get (a child, invalid, etc.) ready for sleep, as in a bed2. to lock (type, plates, etc.) into a form and place on a printing press3. to get an edition (of a newspaper, etc.) ready for printing——————take to one's bedto go to bed because of illness, etc.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.
