bed

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the bottom part of a river, ocean, or a large vehicle like a truck.

n. the ground at the bottom of a body of water, or the flat cargo area of a vehicle.

“The river bed was full of smooth stones and green plants.”

“The divers explored the sandy sea bed, searching for any debris that might have come from the sunken vessel.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Cooking

n. a small area of ground in a garden where you grow flowers or vegetables.

n. a plot of ground prepared for plants.

“We planted some fresh lettuce in the vegetable bed this morning.”

“The gardener carefully weeded the flower bed to ensure the prize-winning roses had enough nutrients to bloom.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Geology Technical

n. a layer of rock or soil in the ground.

n. a distinct layer of sedimentary rock or soil that is visually different from the layers above and below it.

“The miners found a thick bed of coal deep underground.”

“The cliff face clearly displayed a bed of limestone sandwiched between layers of shale, indicating a shift in the ancient environment.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to fix something firmly into a base or surface.

v. to fix or settle something firmly in a surrounding mass or foundation.

“You need to bed the fence posts in concrete so they don't move.”

“The technician bedded the delicate sensors into the silicone casing to protect them from external vibrations during the experiment.”