pillow

[pil-oh]

noun

1. a bag or case made of cloth that is filled with feathers, down, or other soft material, and is used to cushion the head during sleep or rest.

2. anything used to cushion the head; headrest.

   a pillow of moss.

3. Also called lace pillow. a hard cushion or pad that supports the pattern and threads in the making of bobbin lace.

4. a supporting piece or part, as the block on which the inner end of a bowsprit rests.

verb (used with object)

1. to rest on or as on a pillow.

2. to support with pillows.

3. to serve as a pillow for.

   She pillowed the child with her body.

verb (used without object)

1. to rest as on a pillow.

pillow

/ ˈpɪləʊ /

noun

1. a cloth case stuffed with feathers, foam rubber, etc, used to support the head, esp during sleep

2. Also called: cushion. a padded cushion or board on which pillow lace is made

3. anything like a pillow in shape or function

verb

1. to rest (one's head) on or as if on a pillow

2. to serve as a pillow for

Other Word Forms

• pillowless adjective
• pillowlike adjective
• unpillowed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillow¹

before 900; Middle English pilwe, Old English pylu < Latin pulvīnus cushion (whence also German Pfühl)

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillow¹

Old English pylwe, from Latin pulvīnus cushion; compare German Pfühl

Synonym Study

See cushion.

Example Sentences

Girls who wanted to double down on their luck believed that putting their bitten apple under their pillow at night would allow them to see their soulmate in their dreams.

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Like exhausted lovers relaxing on their pillows before going at it again.

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They loaded some clothes, pillows and other small necessities in Farah’s baby stroller.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I’m all about the revenge fantasy and punching pillows and gyrating and sweating and losing your s— in art.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The room is filled with just about every type of consumer product imaginable sent in from clients: chips, shoes, razors, supplements, suitcases, shower heads, toothpaste, pillows printed with the faces of pets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cushion 
• padding