cushion

v. upholster; reduce; protect; soften

n. pillow, soft padded object

A cushion (from Old French coisson, coussin; from Latin culcita, a quilt), is a soft bag of some ornamental material, stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, polyester staple fiber, non-woven material, or even paper torn into fragments. It may be used for sitting or kneeling upon, or to soften the hardness or angularity of a chair or couch. Cushions and rugs can be used temporarily outside, to soften a hard ground. They can be placed on sunloungers and used to prevent annoyances from moist grass and biting insects.
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Cushion /cush·ion/ a soft or padlike part. anal cushions masses of subepithelial tissue, located in the left lateral, right posterior, and right [more]Cushion - Community and Resources

Noun
1. a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses; "the old car needed a new set of shocks"
(synonym) shock absorber, shock
(hypernym) damper, muffler
(hyponym) air cushion, air spring
(part-holonym) suspension, suspension system
(derivation) buffer, soften
2. a soft bag filled with air or a mass of padding such as feathers or foam rubber etc.
(hypernym) padding, cushioning
(hyponym) air cushion, inflatable cushion
Verb
1. protect from impact; "cushion the blow"
(synonym) buffer, soften
(hypernym) modify
(derivation) shock absorber, shock

(v. t.)
To seat or place on, or as on a cushion.
  

(v. t.)
To furnish with cushions; as, to cushion a chaise.
  

(v. t.)
To conceal or cover up, as under a cushion.
  

(n.)
the elastic edge of a billiard table.
  

(n.)
Anything resembling a cushion in properties or use
  

(n.)
A riotous kind of dance, formerly common at weddings; -- called also cushion dance.
  

(n.)
a pad on which gilders cut gold leaf
  

(n.)
a mass of steam in the end of the cylinder of a steam engine to receive the impact of the piston
  

(n.)
A case or bag stuffed with some soft and elastic material, and used to sit or recline upon; a soft pillow or pad.