# pillow

/ˈpɪɫoʊ/ (US) · /pˈɪləʊ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. bedding

noun · CEFR A1

a soft cushion that you put your head on when you are in bed.

For teachers: a soft cushion used to support the head during sleep or rest.

- He fluffed his pillow before lying down to sleep.
- The hotel provides a variety of pillows, ranging from firm memory foam to soft goose down, to ensure guest comfort.

### 2. geology

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a rounded shape of rock formed by lava cooling under the ocean.

For teachers: a rounded, sack-like structure of basaltic rock formed by the rapid cooling of lava underwater.

- The divers photographed the strange pillow formations on the sea floor.
- The presence of pillow lava in the mountain range suggests that the entire region was once submerged beneath a prehistoric ocean.

### 3. engineering support

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a block or piece of material used to support a heavy part of a machine.

For teachers: a support block, often made of metal or wood, designed to equalize pressure or house a bearing.

- The engineer checked the pillow block to make sure the shaft was spinning correctly.
- The heavy-duty pillow block was engineered to withstand the immense vibrational forces generated by the industrial turbine.

### 4. to rest your head

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to rest your head on something soft, as if it were a pillow.

For teachers: to rest or support something as if on a pillow; often used transitively with the head as the object.

- She pillowed her head on her arms and fell asleep at the desk.
- The child pillowed his head against his mother's shoulder, finally finding peace after a long day of travel.

## Examples

- I like to sleep with a soft pillow under my head.
- The hotel provides several different types of pillows so guests can choose the firmness they prefer.
- While the primary function of a pillow is to provide spinal alignment during sleep, modern ergonomic designs often incorporate memory foam to distribute pressure more evenly across the neck and shoulders.

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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.