bed
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a piece of furniture that you sleep or rest on.
n.a piece of furniture, typically consisting of a mattress on a frame, used for sleeping or resting.
Simple“He was so tired that he went straight to bed after dinner.”
In context“The hotel room featured a king-sized bed with high-thread-count linens and an ergonomic mattress designed for maximum comfort.”
UsageUsed without an article in the phrase 'go to bed' to refer to the act of sleeping.
PitfallI am going to the bed. I am going to bed.When you mean the activity of sleeping, do not use 'the' before 'bed'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
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.
Simple“The river bed was full of smooth stones and green plants.”
In context“The divers explored the sandy sea bed, searching for any debris that might have come from the sunken vessel.”
UsageOften used in compound nouns like 'riverbed' or 'seabed'.
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a small area of ground in a garden where you grow flowers or vegetables.
n.a plot of ground prepared for plants.
Simple“We planted some fresh lettuce in the vegetable bed this morning.”
In context“The gardener carefully weeded the flower bed to ensure the prize-winning roses had enough nutrients to bloom.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The miners found a thick bed of coal deep underground.”
In context“The cliff face clearly displayed a bed of limestone sandwiched between layers of shale, indicating a shift in the ancient environment.”
- 05 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.
Simple“You need to bed the fence posts in concrete so they don't move.”
In context“The technician bedded the delicate sensors into the silicone casing to protect them from external vibrations during the experiment.”
UsageOften used with the particle 'in' or 'down'.
Usage bed sheets