1. n. A soft mass of material stuffed into a cloth bag, used for comfort or support; for sitting on, kneeling on, resting one's head on etc.
2. n. Something acting as a cushion, especially to absorb a shock or impact.
3. n. A pad on which gilders cut gold leaf.
4. n. A mass of steam in the end of the cylinder of a steam engine to receive the impact of the piston.
5. n. (sports) The lip around a table in cue sports which absorbs some of the impact of the billiard balls and bounces them back.
6. n. The pillow used in making bone lace.
7. n. An engraver's pad.
8. n. (historical) The rubber of an electrical machine.
9. n. (historical) A pad supporting a woman's hair.
10. n. (figuratively) a sufficient quantity of an intangible object (like points or minutes) to allow for some of those points, for example, to be lost without hurting one's chances for successfully completi
11. n. (obsolete) A riotous dance, formerly common at weddings.
12. v. To furnish with cushions.
to cushion a sofa
13. v. To seat or place on, or as on a cushion.
14. v. To absorb or deaden the impact of.
to cushion a blow
15. v. To conceal or cover up, as under a cushion.