/ ˈkʌmfət; NAmE -fərt/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] the state of being physically relaxed and free from pain; the state of having a pleasant life, with everything that you need :
These tennis shoes are designed for comfort and performance.
With DVD, you can watch the latest movies in the comfort of your own home.
The hotel offers a high standard of comfort and service.
They had enough money to live in comfort in their old age.
2.
[ U ] a feeling of not suffering or worrying so much; a feeling of being less unhappy
SYN consolation :
to take / draw comfort from sb's words
I tried to offer a few words of comfort .
The sound of gunfire was too close for comfort .
If it's any comfort to you, I'm in the same situation.
His words were of little comfort in the circumstances.
comfort food (= food that makes you feel better)
3.
[ sing. ] a person or thing that helps you when you are suffering, worried or unhappy :
The children have been a great comfort to me through all of this.
It's a comfort to know that she is safe.
—see also cold comfort
4.
[ C , usually pl. ] a thing that makes your life easier or more comfortable :
The hotel has all modern comforts / every modern comfort.
material comforts (= money and possessions)
—see also creature comforts
■ verb
to make sb who is worried or unhappy feel better by being kind and sympathetic towards them :
[ vn ]
The victim's widow was today being comforted by family and friends.
She comforted herself with the thought that it would soon be spring.
[ vn to inf ]
It comforted her to feel his arms around her.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a noun, in the senses strengthening, support, consolation ; as a verb, in the senses strengthen, give support, console ): from Old French confort (noun), conforter (verb), from late Latin confortare strengthen, from com- (expressing intensive force) + Latin fortis strong. The sense something producing physical ease arose in the mid 17th cent.