mattress
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A pad on which a person can recline and sleep.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
matruhsSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈmætɹəs
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A pad on which a person can recline and sleep, usually having an inner section of coiled springs covered with foam or other cushioning material then enclosed with cloth fabric.
A form of retaining wall used to support foundations or an embankment
A form of lagging, in particular for boilers.
verb
transitive
To cover with a thick layer, like a mattress; to blanket.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A pad on which a person can recline and sleep, usually having an inner section of coiled springs covered with foam or other cushioning material then enclosed with cloth fabric.
Used this way, mattress is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use mattress
- “A comfortable mattress is essential for a good night's sleep.”
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.