bed

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.