Bed

Definition

Bed is a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a piece of furniture used for sleeping or resting, typically consisting of a mattress and a frame. It also denotes the ground layer of a body of water or a section of a garden for growing plants. As a verb, it means to place or lay something in a resting position or to prepare an area with bedding material.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /bɛd/
• Respelling: bed

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /bɛd/
• Respelling: bed

The pronunciation of "bed" is identical in both American and British English.

Etymology

The word "bed" originates from the Old English "bedd," referring to a place for sleeping. It has roots in Proto-Germanic "*badja" and is related to various Germanic languages where similar terms indicate a place for rest or sleep.

Derivatives

• Bedframe (noun)
• Bedding (noun)
• Bedridden (adjective)
• Bedtime (noun)
• Embed (verb)

Synonyms

• Mattress
• Cot
• Bunk

Antonyms

• Floor
• Standing
• None

Usage

The term "bed" is used widely to describe furniture for sleeping, as in "She lay down on her bed to rest." It is also used to denote a layered surface, such as in gardening or geology, as in "The flower bed was filled with tulips."

Related Terms

• Cot: A lightweight, portable bed, especially for camping.
• Mattress: A large pad used for sleeping, usually placed on a bedframe.
• Bedding: The sheets, blankets, and pillows used to cover a bed.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A piece of furniture for sleeping or resting: Refers to a structure with a mattress and frame, used primarily for rest.
  • Example: "She bought a new bed for her guest room."
• A layer or surface of ground used for growing plants: Describes an area prepared for gardening, such as a flower bed.
  • Example: "The garden bed was filled with colorful flowers."
• The bottom layer of a body of water, such as a riverbed or seabed: Refers to the ground beneath a water body.
  • Example: "The river bed is home to many fish species."

Verb

• To place or settle something into a secure position: Used to indicate placing an object or material into a stable or embedded state.
  • Example: "He bed the stones into the soil to make a pathway."
• To prepare an area with bedding material: Often used in gardening or construction to describe layering materials for a base.
  • Example: "They bedded the garden with rich soil."