What does "bed" mean?

1. (furniture for sleep) a piece of furniture that you sleep or rest on. 2. (bottom of water/truck) the bottom part of a river, ocean, or a large vehicle like a truck. 3. (garden area) a small area of ground in a garden where you grow flowers or vegetables. 4. (geological layer) a layer of rock or soil in the ground. 5. (to fix firmly) to fix something firmly into a base or surface.

How do you use "bed"?

Used without an article in the phrase 'go to bed' to refer to the act of sleeping. Often used in compound nouns like 'riverbed' or 'seabed'. Often used with the particle 'in' or 'down'.

Is it correct to say "I am going to the bed."?

No — say "I am going to bed.". When you mean the activity of sleeping, do not use 'the' before 'bed'.

bed

US //ˈbɛd// UK //bˈɛd// bed

1 furniture for sleep (n.)
A1 Beginner

a piece of furniture that you sleep or rest on.

a piece of furniture, typically consisting of a mattress on a frame, used for sleeping or resting.

Example

He was so tired that he went straight to bed after dinner.

Example

The hotel room featured a king-sized bed with high-thread-count linens and an ergonomic mattress designed for maximum comfort.

Usage

Used without an article in the phrase 'go to bed' to refer to the act of sleeping.
- couch
- berth
Pitfall

I am going to the bed.

I am going to bed.

When you mean the activity of sleeping, do not use 'the' before 'bed'.
2 bottom of water/truck (n.)
B1 Intermediate

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

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

Example

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

Example

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

Usage

Often used in compound nouns like 'riverbed' or 'seabed'.

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3 garden area (n.)
B1 Intermediate Cooking

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

a plot of ground prepared for plants.

Example

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

Example

The gardener carefully weeded the flower bed to ensure the prize-winning roses had enough nutrients to bloom.
- patch
- plot
4 geological layer (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Geology

a layer of rock or soil in the ground.

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

Example

The miners found a thick bed of coal deep underground.

Example

The cliff face clearly displayed a bed of limestone sandwiched between layers of shale, indicating a shift in the ancient environment.
5 to fix firmly (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to fix something firmly into a base or surface.

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

Example

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

Example

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

Usage

Often used with the particle 'in' or 'down'.
- uproot
- remove

Idioms12 entries