air cushion

American  

[air koosh-uhn] / ˈɛər ˌkʊʃ ən /

noun

1. an inflatable, airtight cushion.

2. air chamber.

3. airbag.

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air cushion British  

noun

1. an inflatable cushion, usually made of rubber or plastic

2. the pocket of air that supports a hovercraft

3. a form of pneumatic suspension consisting of a constricted volume of air See also air spring

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Other Word Forms

• air-cushioned adjective

Etymology

Origin of air cushion

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Then they determine whether the empty space is necessary for protecting the product — like the air cushion at the top of a half-full bag of potato chips, for instance — or serving other functions.

From Washington Post • Feb. 10, 2023

Firefighters prepared an air cushion, but the comedian and television personality star had other plans.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2015

Ultimately, the Hyperloop could cost less than the very real world high speed rail proposal because it exists in a vacuum, a protective air cushion created by any engineering proposal that only exists on paper.

From Scientific American • Aug. 14, 2013

The capsules ride an air cushion blasted from "skis" beneath, propelled via a magnetic linear accelerator.

From Reuters • Aug. 13, 2013

Beside them the hovercage shook violently, almost toppling the container from its air cushion.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer