cushion
cushion — 名詞
1. a soft object filled with foam, feathers, or similar padding, placed on a chair
軟墊
放置於座椅上的填充軟墊
a soft object filled with foam, feathers, or similar padding, placed on a chair or seat so that sitting or leaning feels more pleasant
Ravindra bought three new cushions for the living room sofa.
Ravindra 為客廳沙發買了三個新軟墊。
countable noun; cushion + for + location
The old cat curled up on a soft cushion by the window.
那隻老貓蜷縮在窗邊的軟墊上。
Anya's grandmother embroidered flowers on every cushion in the house.
Anya 的祖母在屋裡每個軟墊上都繡了花。
These cushions are filled with foam rather than feathers.
這些軟墊裡填充的是泡棉而不是羽毛。
文法句型
a/an + cushion
cushion + on/about + place
用法筆記
A cushion is usually smaller and placed on a chair or sofa, while a pillow is larger and used on a bed for the head.
常見錯誤
2. an amount of money, time, or other resource that you keep available to reduce th
緩衝物
減少衝擊的資源或措施
an amount of money, time, or other resource that you keep available to reduce the harm when something difficult or unexpected happens
Benjamin kept three months of savings as a cushion against losing his job.
Benjamin 存了三個月的生活費當作失業的緩衝。
cushion + against + negative event
The insurance policy gave the family a financial cushion after the fire destroyed their home.
那張保單在火災燒毀他們家後提供了經濟上的緩衝。
Renata's emergency fund served as a cushion during the months when work was slow.
Renata 的備用金在工作淡季的那幾個月發揮了緩衝作用。
Their big lead gave the team a comfortable cushion in the final minutes.
大幅領先讓該隊在比賽最後幾分鐘有了穩當的緩衝。
- buffer
more neutral; used in both physical and abstract contexts
- safety net
stronger implication of preventing complete failure
- reserve
focuses on the stored resource itself, not its protective function
文法句型
a cushion + against + noun
a cushion + of + noun
用法筆記
Frequently combined with adjectives such as financial, comfortable, or safety. The preposition against introduces the potential problem (e.g., a cushion against inflation).
常見錯誤
3. an enclosed region of air or gas that lifts a vehicle or prevents two surfaces f
氣墊
用來支撐機具的空氣層
an enclosed region of air or gas that lifts a vehicle or prevents two surfaces from making contact
The hovercraft moves across water on a cushion of air.
這艘氣墊船靠一層氣墊在水面上行駛。
countable singular; cushion of + substance
Engineers designed a cushion of compressed gas to lift the heavy platform.
工程師設計了一層壓縮氣體來抬升重型平臺。
A thin cushion of water keeps the sliding door from scraping the floor.
一層薄薄的水墊防止滑門刮到地板。
Minh watched the hovercraft float on a cushion of air above the river.
Minh 看著那艘氣墊船靠著氣墊在河面上行駛。
- layer
more general; does not imply a protective or lifting function
文法句型
a cushion of + substance (air, gas, water)
用法筆記
This is a technical sense, most commonly found in discussions of hovercraft, air-hockey tables, and some industrial machines.
4. a mechanical piece or material that softens sudden force or stops vibrations fro
減震器
機械中吸收衝擊的零件
a mechanical piece or material that softens sudden force or stops vibrations from traveling through a machine or structure
A rubber cushion between the engine and the frame absorbs most of the vibration.
引擎和車架之間的橡膠減震器吸收了大部分的震動。
cushion + location (between X and Y)
Eli placed a rubber cushion under the washing machine to reduce the noise below.
Eli 在洗衣機下方放了一塊橡膠減震墊以減少噪音。
The heavy equipment rests on spring cushions to protect the floor.
重型設備放在彈簧減震器上以保護地板。
Ife added rubber cushions to the machine base to stop it from shaking.
Ife 在機器底座加了橡膠減震器以防止震動。
- damper
technical term; specifically reduces oscillation or vibration
- shock absorber
more common in everyday language for vehicles
- buffer
can refer to any mediating object or system
文法句型
a cushion + between/under/on
用法筆記
This is a technical meaning used in engineering contexts. In everyday English, people usually say shock absorber or padding instead.
5. the raised padded border that runs along the sides of a billiard or snooker tabl
球檯邊
撞球檯邊緣的彈性襯墊
the raised padded border that runs along the sides of a billiard or snooker table and makes the balls spring back when they hit it
The ball bounced off the cushion and rolled toward the corner pocket.
球彈到球檯邊後朝角落的球袋滾去。
preposition phrase: off the cushion
Nellie noticed the rubber cushion on her pool table was starting to wear out.
Nellie 發現她的撞球檯邊的橡膠墊開始磨損了。
A skilled player can use the cushion to change the direction of the cue ball.
技術好的選手可以利用球檯邊來改變母球的方向。
Élise shot the ball so hard it bounced off two cushions before dropping in.
Élise 用力擊球，球彈了兩次球檯邊才掉進袋中。
- rim
general term; not specific to the padded surface that cushions balls
文法句型
the cushion
off the cushion
用法筆記
Only used in the context of billiards, snooker, and pool. Outside these sports, this meaning is unknown to most English speakers.
cushion — 動詞
1. to make the harmful effects of something — such as a fall, a financial loss, or
緩和；減輕
減少衝擊或傷害
to make the harmful effects of something — such as a fall, a financial loss, or bad news — less serious or easier to deal with
The thick carpet cushioned the toddler's fall when she tripped over the rug.
厚地毯緩和了學步兒被地毯絆倒時的撞擊。
cushion + noun (fall) — physical
Eshe cushioned the fragile vase with layers of bubble wrap before mailing it.
Eshe 用幾層泡泡布把易碎的花瓶包好才寄出。
The new tax policy is meant to cushion the blow for families with low incomes.
這項新稅收政策旨在減輕低收入家庭的衝擊。
Hui's savings helped cushion the financial impact of six months without a regular income.
Hui 的積蓄幫助緩和了六個月沒有固定收入的財務壓力。
- intensify
to make worse or stronger
文法句型
cushion + noun (blow, impact, fall, loss, effects)
用法筆記
The most common object is blow (cushion the blow). Other frequent objects include fall, impact, loss, shock, and effect(s). The verb is almost always transitive — you cushion something, not just cushion in general.