air-bed

A family inflates an air-bed for their camping trip.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Inflatable mattress: An "air-bed" is a mattress that is filled with air, typically used for camping, as a temporary bed, or for floating on water. It is usually made of plastic or rubber and can be inflated and deflated as needed.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We brought an air-bed for the camping trip to ensure a comfortable night's sleep. (An inflatable mattress used outdoors.)
  • The children enjoyed floating on the air-bed in the swimming pool. (A mattress used as a flotation device on water.)

Advanced Usage

• "to sleep on an air-bed": to use an inflatable mattress for sleeping.

  • After the flood, many families had to sleep on air-beds in the shelter. (Temporary sleeping arrangements on inflatable mattresses.)

• "to inflate an air-bed": to fill the mattress with air.

  • Please inflate the air-bed before we set up the tent. (To pump air into the mattress to make it usable.)

Variants and Related Words

• Air mattress (n): a synonym for "air-bed", often used interchangeably.

  • The air mattress deflated during the night, leaving us on the ground. (Another term for an inflatable bed.)

• Air pump (n): a device used to inflate an air-bed.

  • We forgot the air pump, so we couldn't use the air-bed. (A tool for filling the mattress with air.)

Synonyms

• Inflatable bed: a bed that can be filled with air.
• Blow-up bed: a casual term for an air-bed, especially one used for temporary sleeping.

Related Idioms

• "to let the air out of someone's air-bed": (informal) to deflate someone's enthusiasm or plans.

  • His criticism really let the air out of her air-bed. (His negative comments diminished her excitement or confidence.)

• "to be on an air-bed": (informal) to be in a temporary or unstable situation.

  • The company is on an air-bed financially; it could collapse at any moment. (The business is in a precarious state.)