comfort
/'kʌmfət/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint: "comfort" refers to a pleasant feeling of being relaxed and having no physical distress.
- Consolation for grief or anxiety: "comfort" means the easing or alleviation of a person's feelings of sadness, worry, or disappointment.
- Things that contribute to physical ease and well-being: "comfort" (often plural: comforts) denotes the items, features, or conditions that provide a life of ease, security, and contentment.
Verb:
- To ease the grief or distress of; to console: "comfort" means to give solace or emotional support to someone who is unhappy.
- To alleviate physical discomfort; to soothe: "comfort" means to make a person or a part of the body feel less physical pain or distress.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The soft armchair provided great comfort after a long day. (The chair gave a feeling of physical ease.)
- She was a great comfort to me when I was feeling sad. (Her presence consoled me.)
- The hotel offers all the modern comforts. (The hotel provides amenities that ensure ease and well-being.)
Verb:
- He tried to comfort his friend after the bad news. (He tried to console his friend emotionally.)
- The medicine will comfort your sore throat. (The medicine will soothe the physical pain in your throat.)
Advanced Usage
- "Cold comfort": very little or unsatisfactory consolation.
- Winning a small prize was cold comfort after losing the championship.
- "To take comfort in": to find solace or reassurance in something.
- She took comfort in knowing her family was safe.
- "Creature comforts": items that make life more pleasant and comfortable, such as good food, a warm bed, etc.
- After camping for a week, he missed his creature comforts at home.
Variants and Related Words
- Comfortable (adj): providing or enjoying physical comfort; free from stress or anxiety.
- She wore comfortable shoes for the walk.
- Comforter (n): a person who comforts someone; (North American) a thick, quilted bed covering.
- He was a gentle comforter to the children. / She pulled the comforter up to her chin.
- Comforting (adj): providing consolation or reassurance.
- His words were very comforting.
Synonyms
- Noun (for consolation): solace, consolation, reassurance, relief.
- Noun (for ease): coziness, well-being, luxury, ease.
- Verb: console, solace, soothe, reassure, ease.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Comfort" is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)
Related Idioms
- "Too close for comfort": dangerously or uncomfortably near.
- The car swerved, missing us by inches—it was too close for comfort.
- "In the comfort of (one's) own home": within the familiar, safe, and relaxing environment of one's home.
- You can watch the movie in the comfort of your own home.
Noun
- assistance, such as that provided to an enemy or to a known criminal
- it gave comfort to the enemy
- bedding made of two layers of cloth filled with stuffing and stitched together
- satisfaction or physical well-being provided by a person or thing
- his friendship was a comfort
- a padded chair was one of the room's few comforts
- a freedom from financial difficulty that promotes a comfortable state
- a life of luxury and ease
- he had all the material comforts of this world
- the act of consoling; giving relief in affliction
- his presence was a consolation to her
- a feeling of freedom from worry or disappointment
- a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
- he is a man who enjoys his comfort
- she longed for the comfortableness of her armchair
Verb
- lessen pain or discomfort; alleviate
- ease the pain in your legs
- give moral or emotional strength to