Couch
A couch (British English, U.S. English, Hiberno English), also known as a sofa or settee (Commonwealth English), is a piece of furniture for seating two or three people in the form of a bench, with armrests, which is partially or entirely upholstered, and often fitted with springs and tailored cushions. Although a couch is used primarily for seating, it may be used for sleeping. In homes, couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den, or the lounge. They are sometimes also found in non-residential settings such as hotels, lobbies of commercial offices, waiting rooms, and bars.
Sofa
A couch (U.S. English, British English), also known as a sofa, settee (Canadian English and British English), or chesterfield (Canadian English and British English) is a piece of furniture for seating two or three people in the form of a bench, with armrests, that is partially or entirely upholstered, and often fitted with springs and tailored cushions. Although a couch is used primarily for seating, it may be used for sleeping.
In homes, couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den, or the lounge. They are sometimes also found in non-residential settings such as hotels, lobbies of commercial offices, waiting rooms, and bars.
The term couch is predominantly used in Ireland, North America, South Africa and Australia whereas the terms sofa and settee (U and non-U) are generally used in the United Kingdom. The word couch originated in Middle English from the Old French noun couche, which derived from the verb meaning “to lie down”. It originally denoted an item of furniture for lying or sleeping on, somewhat like a chaise longue, but now refers to sofas in general. The word sofa comes from Turkish and is derived from the Arabic word suffa (“wool”), originating in the Aramaic word sippa (“mat”). The word settee comes from the Old English word, setl, which was used to describe long benches with high backs and arms, but is now generally used to describe upholstered seating.
Other terms which can be synonymous with the above definition are chesterfield (Canada), divan, davenport, lounge, and canapé.
Couch (noun)
An item of furniture, often upholstered, for the comfortable seating of more than one person.
Couch (noun)
A bed, a resting-place.
Couch (noun)
A preliminary layer, as of colour or size.
Couch (noun)
A mass of steeped barley spread upon a floor to germinate, in malting; or the floor occupied by the barley.
“a couch of malt”
Couch (noun)
, a species of persistent grass, Elymus repens, usually considered a weed.
Couch (verb)
To lie down; to recline (upon a couch or other place of repose).
Couch (verb)
To lie down for concealment; to conceal, to hide; to be concealed; to be included or involved darkly or secretly.
Couch (verb)
To bend the body, as in reverence, pain, labor, etc.; to stoop; to crouch.
Couch (verb)
To lay something upon a bed or other resting place.
Couch (verb)
To arrange or dispose as if in a bed.
Couch (verb)
To lay or bed.
Couch (verb)
To lower (a spear or lance) to the position of attack.
Couch (verb)
In the treatment of a cataract in the eye, to displace the opaque lens with a sharp object such as a needle. The technique is regarded as largely obsolete.
Couch (verb)
To transfer (for example, sheets of partly dried felt blanket for further drying.
Couch (verb)
To attach a thread onto fabric with small stitches in order to add texture.
Couch (verb)
To phrase in a particular style; to use specific wording for.
“He couched it as a request, but it was an order.”
Sofa (noun)
A raised area of a building’s floor, usually covered with carpeting, used for sitting.
Sofa (noun)
A upholstered seat with a raised back and one or two raised ends, long enough to comfortably accommodate two or more people.
Couch (noun)
a long upholstered piece of furniture for several people to sit on
“I sat in an armchair and they sat on the couch”
Couch (noun)
a reclining seat with a headrest at one end on which a psychoanalyst’s subject or doctor’s patient lies while undergoing treatment
“the child was lying on the examination couch”
Couch (noun)
a coarse grass with long creeping roots, which can be a serious weed in gardens.
Couch (verb)
express (something) in language of a specified style
“the assurances were couched in general terms”
Couch (verb)
lay down
“two fair creatures, couched side by side in deepest grass”
Couch (verb)
lower (a spear) to the position for attack
“To arms! cried Mortimer, and couch’d his quiv’ring lance”
Couch (verb)
treat (a cataract) by pushing the lens of the eye downwards and backwards, out of line with the pupil.
Couch (verb)
(in embroidery) fix (a thread) to a fabric by stitching it down flat with another thread
“gold and silver threads couched by hand”