mattress

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A large flat cushion that you put on a bed frame and sleep on.

   Grammar: Countable: a mattress, two mattresses. Often used with 'on': sleep on a mattress.

   Patterns

   • on a mattress
   • a soft/hard mattress
   • a mattress for a bed

   The mattress was too soft, so I woke up with a backache.

   They bought a new mattress for the guest room.

   He sat on the edge of the mattress and put on his shoes.

2. 2nouncountable

   The part of a bed consisting of this cushion and its cover, considered as a single item.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in compounds like 'mattress cover' or 'mattress pad'.

   Patterns

   • mattress cover
   • mattress pad
   • mattress size

   I need to buy a waterproof mattress cover for the baby's crib.

   The mattress pad adds extra comfort to the bed.

Word forms

Common combinations

spring mattress

A spring mattress can be noisy if the coils are old.

foam mattress

A foam mattress is usually lighter and easier to move.

memory foam mattress

A memory foam mattress molds to your body shape.

double mattress

We need a double mattress for the new bed.

mattress topper

A mattress topper can make an old bed feel new.

Synonyms and how they differ

bed

A bed is the whole piece of furniture; a mattress is only the part you sleep on.

pad

A pad is a thin cushion; a mattress is much thicker and designed for sleeping.

Word family

mattresses noun

Plural of mattress.

Commonly confused: mattress or matt?

Practice

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