bedside
/'bedsaid/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: The area or space immediately adjacent to a bed, particularly the bed of a person who is sick, sleeping, or resting. It is the location where one would stand or sit to attend to the person in the bed.
Usage
The word "bedside" is used to specify a location. It is almost always used with the preposition "at" to form the common phrase "at the bedside," meaning positioned next to the bed. It is most frequently associated with medical or caregiving contexts.
Examples
- The nurse placed a glass of water on the bedside table.
- Family members gathered at the patient's bedside.
- She kept a book on her bedside for nighttime reading.
Advanced Usage
- Bedside manner: This is a fixed noun phrase referring to the attitude, behavior, and approach of a doctor, nurse, or other caregiver toward a patient. A "good bedside manner" implies kindness, empathy, and effective communication.
- The pediatrician is excellent; she has a wonderful bedside manner that puts children at ease.
Variants and Related Words
- Bedside table / bedside cabinet (noun phrase): A small table or cabinet placed next to a bed.
- Bedside lamp (noun phrase): A lamp designed to be placed on a bedside table.
Synonyms
- Bedsite (archaic, rarely used)
- Beside the bed (descriptive phrase)
Notes
"Bedside" functions as a noun but is primarily used attributively to modify other nouns (e.g., bedside manner, bedside lamp, bedside vigil). Its core meaning consistently relates to the immediate vicinity of a bed.
Noun
- space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)
- the doctor stood at her bedside