cushion
cush‧ion1 S3 /ˈkʊʃən/ 
noun [countable]
1. a cloth bag filled with soft material that you put on a chair or the floor to make it more comfortable ⇨ pillow:
a velvet cushion
a cushion cover
2. something that stops one thing from hitting another thing:
Good sports shoes should provide a cushion when running.
3. [usually singular] something, especially money, that prevents you from being immediately affected by a bad situation
cushion against
Savings can act as a cushion against unemployment.
4. the soft rubber edge of the table used for playing billiards or snooker
cushion2 verb [transitive]
1. to make the effect of a fall or hit less painful, for example by having something soft in the way:
His landing was cushioned by the fresh snow that had fallen.
2. to protect someone from an unpleasant situation or the unpleasant effects of something
cushion the blow/impact (of something)
generous leaving allowances to help cushion the blow of redundancy
cushion somebody from/against something
Parents today often feel their children should be cushioned from the outside world.
| I |
noun [countable] Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: coissin, from Vulgar Latin coxinus, from Latin coxa 'hip'
Language: Old French
Origin: coissin, from Vulgar Latin coxinus, from Latin coxa 'hip'
1. a cloth bag filled with soft material that you put on a chair or the floor to make it more comfortable ⇨ pillow:
2. something that stops one thing from hitting another thing:
3. [usually singular] something, especially money, that prevents you from being immediately affected by a bad situation
cushion against
4. the soft rubber edge of the table used for playing billiards or snooker
| II |
verb [transitive]1. to make the effect of a fall or hit less painful, for example by having something soft in the way:
2. to protect someone from an unpleasant situation or the unpleasant effects of something
cushion the blow/impact (of something)
cushion somebody from/against something