couch

[kouch, kooch]

noun

1. a piece of furniture for seating from two to four people, typically in the form of a bench with a back, sometimes having an armrest at one or each end, and partly or wholly upholstered and often fitted with springs, tailored cushions, skirts, etc.; sofa.

2. a similar article of furniture, with a headrest at one end, on which some patients of psychiatrists or psychoanalysts lie while undergoing treatment.

3. a bed or other place of rest; a lounge; any place used for repose.

4. the lair of a wild beast.

5. Brewing.,  the frame on which barley is spread to be malted.

6. Papermaking.,  the board or felt blanket on which wet pulp is laid for drying into paper sheets.

7. Fine Arts.,  a primer coat or layer, as of paint.

verb (used with object)

1. to arrange or frame (words, a sentence, etc.); put into words; express.

   a simple request couched in respectful language.

2. to express indirectly or obscurely.

   the threat couched under his polite speech.

3. to lower or bend down, as the head.

4. to lower (a spear, lance, etc.) to a horizontal position, as for attack.

5. to put or lay down, as for rest or sleep; cause to lie down.

6. to lay or spread flat.

7. Papermaking.,  to transfer (a sheet of pulp) from the wire to the couch.

8. to embroider by couching.

9. Archaic.,  to hide; conceal.

verb (used without object)

1. to lie at rest or asleep; repose; recline.

2. to crouch; bend; stoop.

3. to lie in ambush or in hiding; lurk.

4. to lie in a heap for decomposition or fermentation, as leaves.

couch

/ kaʊtʃ /

noun

1. a piece of upholstered furniture, usually having a back and armrests, for seating more than one person

2. a bed, esp one used in the daytime by the patients of a doctor or a psychoanalyst

3. a frame upon which barley is malted

4. a priming layer of paint or varnish, esp in a painting

5. papermaking

   1. a board on which sheets of handmade paper are dried by pressing

   2. a felt blanket onto which sheets of partly dried paper are transferred for further drying

   3. a roll on a papermaking machine from which the wet web of paper on the wire is transferred to the next section

6. archaic,  the lair of a wild animal

verb

1. (tr) to express in a particular style of language

   couched in an archaic style

2. (when tr, usually reflexive or passive) to lie down or cause to lie down for or as for sleep

3. archaic,  (intr) to lie in ambush; lurk

4. (tr) to spread (barley) on a frame for malting

5. (intr) (of decomposing leaves) to lie in a heap or bed

6. (tr) to embroider or depict by couching

7. (tr) to lift (sheets of handmade paper) onto the board on which they will be dried

8. (tr) surgery to remove (a cataract) by downward displacement of the lens of the eye

9. archaic,  (tr) to lower (a lance) into a horizontal position

Other Word Forms

• well-couched adjective
• coucher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of couch¹

1300–50; (noun) Middle English couche < Anglo-French, Old French, derivative of coucher; (v.) Middle English couchen < Anglo-French, Old French coucher, Old French colcher < Latin collocāre to put into place, equivalent to col- col- ¹ + locāre to put, place; locate

Word History and Origins

Origin of couch¹

C14: from Old French couche a bed, lair, from coucher to lay down, from Latin collocāre to arrange, from locāre to place; see _locate

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the couch, undergoing psychiatric or psychoanalytic treatment.

Example Sentences

When the agents failed to pry the sofa bed open, Maltzan told them it was stuck, but they could “shoot through the couch” if they thought she was hiding anything.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Don’t be surprised if the leg on the table gets snapped off or scratched or if the couch doesn’t fit in the elevator,” he said.

Read more on MarketWatch

Browse our picks throughout the week for what to watch on the couch, at the movie theater or on stage.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It would almost be cute, if not for the sprawling, chaotic posture she’s assumed on the basement couch.

Read more on Literature

It was nearly eight a.m. when Michael sailed through the front door to find his sixteen-year-old babysitter perched on his secondhand couch.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• bed 
• chair 
• lounge