1a piece of furniture for sleep or rest, typically a framework with a mattress:a large double bedshe was in bed by nine
a bed and associated facilities comprising a place for a patient in a hospital:the unit has 20 geriatric beds
a bedroom: [in combination]:a three-bed detached house
a place or article used by a person or animal for sleep or rest:a bed of straw
informal used with reference to a bed as the typical place for sexual activity:he’s incredibly good in bed
2an area of ground, typically in a garden, where flowers and plants are grown:a bed of tulips
3a flat base or foundation on which something rests or is supported, in particular:
the foundation of a road or railway:the pavement consists of granite blocks set on a bed of cobblestones and cement
chiefly North American the open part of a truck, wagon, or cart, where goods are carried:the spare tyre in the forward bed of the truck
the flat surface beneath the baize of a billiard table.
4a stratum or layer of rock:a bed of clay
a layer of food on which other foods are served:the salad is served on a bed of raw spinach
5the bottom of the sea or a lake or river:the gravelly bed of the stream
[with modifier] a place on the seabed where shellfish, especially oysters or mussels, breed or are bred:an oyster bed
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Universal
1provide with sleeping accommodation:the children were bedded in the attic
[no object] (bed down) settle down to sleep or rest for the night in an improvised place:you can bed down in the shed
(bed someone/thing down) settle a person or animal down to sleep or rest for the night:she is grooming the horses and bedding them down for the night
informal have sexual intercourse with:he should bed a woman of his own age and leave this girl alone
2transfer (a plant) from a pot or seed tray to a garden plot:I bedded out some houseplants
3fix firmly; embed:the posts should be firmly bedded in concrete
lay or arrange (something, especially stone) in a layer:crazy paving has to be bedded on a solid base of hard core
[no object] (bed in) settle down and become established:a period of calm will allow the changes to bed in
bed and board
British lodging and food, typically forming part of someone’s wages:she had bed and board and two shillings a day pay
bed of nails
a board with nails pointing out of it, as lain on by fakirs and ascetics.
a problematic or uncomfortable situation:he took over the Liberal leadership after that bed of nails had been vacated by Lord Rosebery
a bed of roses
[usually with negative] used in reference to a situation or activity that is comfortable or easy:farming is no bed of roses
be brought to bed
archaic give birth to a child:she was brought to bed of a daughter
get out of bed on the wrong side (or USget up on the wrong side of the bed)
start the day in a bad mood, which continues all day long:did you get out of bed on the wrong side this morning?
in bed with
informal
having sexual intercourse with:he found the missus in bed with one of the neighbours
in undesirably close association with:he was in bed with the Mob
keep one's bed
archaic stay in bed because of illness.
one has made one's bed and must lie in (or on) it
one must accept the consequences of one’s actions.
put someone to bed
prepare someone, typically a child, for rest in bed:Clare put her to bed and gave her a mug of cocoa
put something to bed
informal make a newspaper or book ready for press:the newspaper will often be put to bed the day before the publication date
deal with conclusively:I hope that puts to bed all the nonsensethe university debate needs putting to bedone theatre season has been put to bed and another is just springing to life
take to one's bed
stay in bed because of illness:he took to his bed for a week with a chill
