n. & v.
--n.
1. a a piece of furniture used for sleeping on, usu. a framework with a mattress and coverings. b such a mattress, with or without coverings.
2 any place used by a person or animal for sleep or rest; a litter.
3 a a garden plot, esp. one used for planting flowers. b a place where other things may be grown (osier bed).
4 the use of a bed: a colloq. for sexual intercourse (only thinks of bed). b for rest (needs his bed).
5 something flat, forming a support or base as in: a the bottom of the sea or a river. b the foundations of a road or railway. c the slates etc. on a billiard-table.
6 a stratum, such as a layer of oysters etc.
--v. (bedded, bedding)
1. tr. & intr. (usu. foll. by down) put or go to bed.
2 tr. colloq. have sexual intercourse with.
3 tr. (usu. foll. by out) plant in a garden bed.
4 tr. cover up or fix firmly in something.
5 a tr. arrange as a layer. b intr. be or form a layer.
Phrases and idioms:
bed and board
1. lodging and food.
2 marital relations.
bed and breakfast
1. one night's lodging and breakfast in a hotel etc.
2 an establishment that provides this. bed of roses a life of ease. brought to bed (often foll. by of) delivered of a child. get out of bed on the wrong side be bad-tempered all day long.
go to bed
1. retire for the night.
2 have sexual intercourse.
3 (of a newspaper) go to press. keep one's bed stay in bed because of illness. make the bed tidy and arrange the bed for use. make one's bed and lie in it accept the consequences of one's acts.
put to bed
1. cause to go to bed.
2 make (a newspaper) ready for press. take to one's bed stay in bed because of illness.
Etymology: OE bed(d), beddian f. Gmc