mattress

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noun mat·tress \ ˈma-trəs \

Definition of mattress

1 a :a fabric case filled with resilient material (such as cotton, hair, feathers, foam rubber, or an arrangement of coiled springs) used either alone as a bed or on a bedstead

b :an inflatable airtight sack for use as a mattress

2 :a device (as of interwoven brush and poles) used to protect a shoreline, bank, or streambed from erosion

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Recent Examples of mattress from the Web

HOUSTON (AP) — The muddy floodwaters now soaking through dry wall, carpeting, mattresses and furniture in Houston will pose a massive cleanup challenge with potential public health consequences.

— carla k. johnson, The Seattle Times, "Public health dangers loom in Harvey-hit areas," 28 Aug. 2017
Prehm said the immediate need for people will be for toiletries, laundry soap, tents and air mattresses, as well as money to cover the cost of fuel for the truck.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Naperville woman seeks truck, driver to haul disaster relief to Texas," 28 Aug. 2017
In a tour of the apartments upstairs, which are stylishly furnished with Casper mattresses and sturdy furniture from the Detroit company Floyd, Ms. Evans smoothed bedspreads and pillows.

— penelope green, New York Times, "In the ’90s, We Had ‘Friends.’ Now They Call It Co-Living.," 23 Aug. 2017
Along with beverages, the bar offers four bedrooms just big enough to fit a mattress or two.

— The Economist, "From cutting hair to turning tricksVenezuelans sell sex in Colombia to survive," 20 July 2017
Most of the Africans dotted across the asphalt in tents or sprawled on mattresses in the enervating heat of a Roman summer have no permission to be there either.

— The Economist, "Unwelcome choicesItaly is facing a surge of migration across the Mediterranean," 20 July 2017
Sulkowitz protested Columbia's handling of her complaint by carrying a 50-pound mattress around the upper Manhattan campus from September 2014 until her graduation in May 2015.

— CBS News, "Columbia University settles gender bias suit by man in "Mattress Girl" accusations," 15 July 2017
But to most of the buying public, Lexus is still synonymous with mattress-soft barges and cushy carpool-lane SUVs.

— star-telegram, "An Exuberant Spirit: The all-new Lexus LC 500 exudes luxurious edginess," 5 July 2017
At 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, elements of the outdoors are infused into each room, with every detail meticulously engineered to meet the highest standards of eco-consciousness, right down to the hemp-blend mattresses and organic sheets.

— Daily Intelligencer, "5 Luxe NYC Hotels Perfect for a Quick Summer Staycation," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mattress.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of mattress

Middle English materas, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin materacium, from Arabic maṭraḥ place where something is thrown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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MATTRESS Defined for English Language Learners

mattress

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noun

Definition of mattress for English Language Learners

: a cloth case that is filled with material and used as a bed

MATTRESS Defined for Kids

mattress

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noun mat·tress \ ˈma-trəs \

Definition of mattress for Students

:a springy pad for use on a bed

Learn More about mattress

Spanish Central: Translation of mattress Nglish: Translation of mattress for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mattress for Arabic speakers

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mattress

Definition of mattress

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MATTRESS Defined for English Language Learners

mattress

Definition of mattress for English Language Learners

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mattress

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