Definition

Noun: 1. A support for the head: A device or part of a structure designed to support a person's head, allowing it to rest comfortably. 2. A safety feature in vehicles: Specifically, a padded cushion attached to the top of a seat back, especially in an automobile, designed to limit head movement during a collision and help prevent neck injuries such as whiplash.

Usage Examples

• General Support:
  • The massage chair has a comfortable, adjustable headrest.
  • She leaned back against the headrest and closed her eyes.
• Automotive Safety:
  • Always ensure your car's headrest is positioned correctly to protect your neck.
  • The whiplash protection system relies on a properly adjusted headrest.

Advanced Usage

• "Adjustable headrest": A headrest whose height or angle can be changed to fit the user.
  • The new office chairs feature ergonomically designed, adjustable headrests.
• "Integrated headrest": A headrest that is built into the structure of the seat rather than being a separate, attached piece.
  • The sleek design of the sofa includes an integrated headrest.

Variants and Related Words

• Head restraint: A more formal or technical term, often used interchangeably with "headrest," especially in automotive safety contexts.
  • The vehicle's safety manual refers to it as a head restraint.

Synonyms

• Support (in the general sense of something that bears weight).
• Bolster (a long, thick pillow that can be used for head support).
• Head cushion.

Notes on Meaning

The primary meaning is a support for the head. The specific meaning related to automotive safety is a critical application of this general definition. In modern usage, especially regarding cars, "headrest" often implicitly carries the safety connotation.

Noun

1. a rest for the head
2. a cushion attached to the top of the back of an automobile's seat to prevent whiplash