ottoman

noun

ot·to·man | \ ˈä-tə-mən

Definition of ottoman

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 capitalized

a : a member of a Turkish dynasty founded by Osman I that ruled the Ottoman Empire

b : a citizen or functionary of the Ottoman Empire

2 [ French ottomane, from feminine of ottoman, adjective ]

a : an upholstered often overstuffed seat or couch usually without a back

b : an overstuffed footstool

3 : a heavy clothing fabric characterized by pronounced crosswise ribs

Ottoman

adjective

Ot·to·man | \ ˈä-tə-mən

Definition of Ottoman (Entry 2 of 2)

: of or relating to the Ottoman Empire or its citizens

Examples of ottoman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

At the foot of the king-size bed is an ottoman concealing a television screen; on one side there is a work desk and on the other, a cozy reading nook. — Lindsay Silberman, Town & Country, "The Best Room At...Baros Maldives," 4 May 2019 Meaningful accents like these are given space to breathe against thoughtful neutrals, like a caramel ottoman and a sisal rug. — House Beautiful, "There's Pattern in Every Room of This Designer's Happy Home," 7 Mar. 2019 There’s constant in and out, lots of drinks set down on tables, feet up on the ottoman. — Douglas Brenner, House Beautiful, "History Buffs Will Obsess Over This Antiques-Filled Home," 3 Nov. 2017 And then there are the essentials—a fan, for those forced to forgo air-conditioning, a storage ottoman to store all your snacks when the dining hall just won’t do, and a basket that’s easy to haul to the laundry room. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, "13 Stylish Items Every College Student Should Have in Their Dorm Room," 15 Aug. 2018 The best sit-down-and-check-Instagram spot is right by the bathrooms, where Johnston Marklee have installed their reinterpretation of the hexagonal velvet ottoman from the Menil House. — Alexandra Lange, Curbed, "A museum grows in Houston," 1 Nov. 2018 In fact, this ottoman sofa bed available on Amazon actually adds a nice, simple aesthetic to a room—while also being super handy as a place for your guests to crash. — Maya Mcdowell, House Beautiful, "Believe It: This Small Ottoman Turns Into A Sofa Bed," 25 Jan. 2019 The living room’s vintage armchairs and ABC Carpet & Home ottoman are in Ralph Lauren Home fabrics. — Nick Sullivan, ELLE Decor, "A Snug New York Bachelor Pad Is Morphed Into a Swank and Spacious Home," 20 Nov. 2018 Rather than placing a large sofa at the far end of the layout, opt for a daybed or an oversized ottoman. — Kelsey Kloss, ELLE Decor, "4 Smart Ways To Plan Your Living Room Layout," 20 June 2016

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