WordGarden.iobed
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈɛd/
US
- /ˈbɛd/
Meanings
Noun
a piece of furniture used for sleeping or resting
an area of prepared soil where flowers, vegetables, or other plants are grown
the bottom of a river, sea, lake, or similar body of water
Beyond the definition
Most people first think of a bed as the place to rest at night—the frame, mattress, and bedding where we sleep. But the word has more than one use. It can also mean a prepared patch of soil for flowers or vegetables, like a flowerbed, vegetable bed, or seedbed. In geography, it names the bottom of a river, lake, or sea, the surface the water moves over. Everyday phrases remind us of these meanings: you make the bed, get out of bed, or stay in bed with a cold when you're sick. In each case, context tells you which meaning fits.
The word "bed" is most often the sleep surface in a room, with a frame, mattress, and bedding. In plain speech, people say "in bed" when they mean they are lying down, and phrases like "make the bed" or "get out of bed" refer to everyday routines. It also describes a prepared area of ground for growing things—flowerbeds, raised beds, and seedbeds are all standard examples.
In a different field, the term points to a lower surface or stratum: a riverbed, seabed, or lakebed is the bottom over which water flows, while a bed of rock refers to a geologic layer. You can also use it figuratively for a base or supporting layer, like a bed of gravel or leaves. Some people use "in bed with" an illness to mean being confined because of sickness, and sharing a bed can imply intimacy. So whether you're resting, gardening, or studying natural layers, one word spans several connected ideas of being a foundation or resting place.
Examples
- 1
Sleep routine
I usually go to bed around eleven.
- 2
Children sleeping
The kids are already in bed.
- 3
Illness
She stayed in bed all morning because she felt sick.
- 4
Household task
Don’t forget to make the bed before you leave.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Guest room
We need an extra bed for your cousin when he visits.
- 6
Bedtime habit
He likes to read in bed before falling asleep.
- 7
Hospital care
The nurse helped him get out of bed after the operation.
- 8
Baby care
I’ll put the baby to bed after her bath.
- Patternput someone to bed
help them get ready to sleep
- 9
Gardening
We planted roses in the flower bed by the front door.
- Phraseflower bed
an area of soil where flowers are grown
- 10
River geography
By August, the river bed was almost completely dry.
- Phraseriver bed
the bottom of a river
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- bednounverb
Forms
- bedspluralnounverb
- bedding-ing formverbnoun
- beddedpast tenseverbnoun