# mattress

/ˈmætɹəs/ (US) · /mˈætɹəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mattress
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. bedding

noun · CEFR A2

the large, soft part of a bed that you lie on to sleep.

For teachers: a large rectangular pad for supporting the reclining body, used as or on a bed.

- The new mattress was so comfortable that I fell asleep immediately.
- After years of sleeping on a worn-out frame, he finally invested in a high-quality memory foam mattress to alleviate his chronic back pain.

### 2. engineering/foundations

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a thick layer of material used to protect a foundation or a river bank.

For teachers: a protective structure, often made of stone or concrete, used to stabilise foundations or prevent erosion on embankments.

- Engineers placed a concrete mattress along the river bank to stop the soil from washing away.
- The structural integrity of the bridge was reinforced by a heavy-duty stone mattress designed to withstand the constant pressure of the tidal current.

### 3. to cover thickly

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to cover something with a thick, soft layer.

For teachers: to cover or blanket a surface with a thick layer of material, resembling the application of a mattress.

- The fallen leaves started to mattress the forest floor as autumn arrived.
- By mid-December, a heavy snowfall had begun to mattress the valley, muffling all sound and hiding the jagged rocks beneath a soft white layer.

## Examples

- The new mattress is much softer than my old one.
- After ten years of use, the mattress began to sag in the middle, making it difficult to get a good night's sleep.
- High-end manufacturers often combine layers of memory foam with pocketed coils to create a mattress that provides both pressure relief and structural support.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.