cushion
1. cush.ion \'ku.sh-*n\ n [ME cusshin, fr. MF coissin, fr. (assumed) VL
coxinus, fr. L] often attrib coxa hip - more at COXA 1: a soft pillow or
pad to rest on or against 2: a bodily part resembling a pad 3: something
resembling a cushion : as 3a: PILLOW 3b: RAT 3c: a pad of springy rubber
along the inside of the rim of a billiard table 3d: the head of a drill
brace 3e: a padded insert in a shoe 3f: a strip of soft resilient rubber
between the breaker and carcass of a p neumatic tire 3g: an artificial pool
provided to absorb the kinetic energy of falling wat er and so prevent
erosion 3h: an elastic body for reducing shock 3i: a mat laid under a
large rug to ease the effect of wear 4: something serving to mitigate the
effects of disturbances or disorders : as 4a: a factor that lessens
adverse developments in the economy 4b: a medical procedure or drug that
eases a patient's discomfort
2. cushion \-(*-)nin\ vt or cush.ion.ing 1: to seat or place on a cushion
2: to suppress by ignoring 3: to furnish with a cushion 4a: to mitigate
the effects of 4b: to protect against force or shock 5: to check
gradually so as to minimize shock of moving parts