bed
bed — verb
1. to press or fasten an object so that it sits deeply and firmly inside soil, ceme
to press or fasten an object so that it sits deeply and firmly inside soil, cement, or some other material, making it hard to move.
The builders bedded the wooden posts deep into wet concrete to hold the fence steady.
bed + object + into + material
Olu bedded the small tree firmly in the soft soil and watered it well.
bed + object + in + material
Tiny pieces of glass were bedded in the rubber sole of Daniel's running shoe.
passive: be bedded in
Otto bedded the heavy stones into the path one by one before the rain came.
The jeweller bedded each small diamond firmly into the soft gold ring.
bed + object + into + soft material
- bed firmly
- bed deep
- bed in concrete
- bed in soil
- bedded in mud
Grammar Patterns
bed something in/into something
be bedded in something
Usage Note
Frequently passive (be bedded in/into something). Subject is usually a small, hard object (post, stone, jewel, fragment) and the location is a soft or sticky material (mud, concrete, soil, wax).
Common Mistakes
2. to get someone or yourself ready to sleep, usually by giving them a place to lie
to get someone or yourself ready to sleep, usually by giving them a place to lie down for the night, especially in a temporary or simple spot.
Mrs. Lin bedded the twins down on the sofa with two thick blankets.
bed + someone + down
The hikers bedded down beside the river when it grew too dark to walk on.
intransitive: bed down + place
After the long flight, Yusuf bedded the children down before eight o'clock.
The farmer bedded the new horses down with fresh straw in the warm barn.
bed + animal + down + material
The scout troop bedded down for the night inside an old cabin near the lake.
bed down for the night + place
- bed down for the night
- bed down on the floor
- bed the children down
- bed the horses down
- settle
more general; suggests calming down, not only sleep
- tuck in
informal; specifically about pulling covers around someone in a real bed
- put to bed
very common everyday phrase for the same idea
Grammar Patterns
bed someone down
bed down somewhere
Usage Note
Almost always appears with the particle 'down'. Distinguish from sense 1 (FIX IN PLACE): here the object is a person or animal preparing to sleep, not a hard item pressed into a material.
Common Mistakes
3. to take someone as a sexual partner, especially in a brief or casual encounter r
to take someone as a sexual partner, especially in a brief or casual encounter rather than within a committed relationship.
Eitan boasted to his friends that he had bedded half the women in the office.
informal, often boastful tone
The novel describes a king who tried to bed every young noblewoman at his court.
Henry was determined to bed the rich widow before his rival could even meet her.
bed + someone (boastful, conquest tone)
Beatriz suspected her boyfriend was hoping to bed her by the end of the trip.
- bed someone
- be bedded by
- try to bed
- sleep with
neutral and far more common in everyday speech
- seduce
focuses on persuading someone into sex, not the act itself
- have an affair with
implies a longer secret relationship, not a single encounter
Grammar Patterns
bed someone
Usage Note
Informal and often disapproving — carries a hint of conquest or one-sided interest. In neutral or polite speech, prefer 'sleep with' or 'have sex with'. Common in fiction, gossip, and journalism, rare in formal writing.
Common Mistakes
bed — noun
1. the rectangular item of furniture, usually with a soft mattress and pillows, tha
the rectangular item of furniture, usually with a soft mattress and pillows, that you lie down on at night to sleep.
Eitan jumped onto the bed and pulled the blue blanket up to his chin.
preposition: onto the bed
Beatriz was so tired that she fell asleep before her head touched the bed.
Grandpa Henry sat on the edge of the bed and slowly tied his shoes.
preposition: on the edge of the bed
Mum told the twins it was past nine, so they had to go to bed.
fixed phrase: go to bed (no article)
Grandma read a long story to the twins while they sat in bed.
fixed phrase: in bed (no article)
- double bed
- single bed
- king-size bed
- in bed
- go to bed
- get into bed
- get out of bed
Grammar Patterns
in bed
go to bed
make the bed
Usage Note
Often appears without an article in fixed phrases such as 'go to bed', 'in bed', and 'out of bed', where it refers to the activity of sleeping rather than the object itself.
Common Mistakes
2. the daily household task of straightening the sheets, smoothing the duvet, and a
the daily household task of straightening the sheets, smoothing the duvet, and arranging the pillows on a bed after someone has got up — referred to almost only through the fixed phrase 'make the bed'.
Mrs Lopez asks her son to make the bed every morning before school.
collocation: make the bed
Otto pulled up the sheets and quickly made the bed for his guest.
Hotel cleaners make about thirty beds during a single morning shift.
Olu forgot to make her bed, and her mother was not pleased.
possessive: make + her/his bed
- make the bed
- make your bed
- make the beds
- tidy up the bed
more general; describes any quick straightening, not the full daily chore
Grammar Patterns
make + the bed
make + my/your/her bed
Usage Note
Almost always used in the fixed pattern 'make the bed' or 'make + possessive + bed'. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense names a household chore, not the piece of furniture.
Common Mistakes
3. a flat layer of one material that supports something else placed on top of it —
a flat layer of one material that supports something else placed on top of it — for example, the gravel under a railway track or the rock under a road.
The workers spread a thick bed of gravel before laying the train tracks.
pattern: a bed of + material
Engineers found an old bed of clay deep beneath the city park.
The new road sits on a strong bed of crushed stone and sand.
The builders poured concrete onto a thick bed of sand to keep the floor level.
pattern: a bed of sand under a structure
- a bed of gravel
- a bed of rock
- a bed of clay
- a bed of sand
- layer
the most general word; not limited to supporting layers
- foundation
emphasises that the layer carries a building or structure
- stratum
technical, used in geology for a single rock layer
Grammar Patterns
a bed of + noun
Usage Note
Typical objects of the preposition 'of' are bulk materials: gravel, sand, rock, clay, concrete. Distinguish from sense 5: in cooking, a 'bed of' is food on a plate; here the layer is geological or industrial.
Common Mistakes
4. the solid ground that lies below a river, lake, or ocean — the surface that the
the solid ground that lies below a river, lake, or ocean — the surface that the water sits on.
Divers picked up old coins and broken pottery from the bed of the river.
pattern: the bed of the river
Sunlight reached the sandy bed of the shallow bay near Orchid Island.
Strong currents had carved deep holes into the rocky sea bed.
compound: sea bed
After the long drought, the bed of the lake was dry and cracked.
- river bed
- sea bed
- lake bed
- ocean bed
- the bed of the river
- surface
the top of the water, opposite of the bed below
Grammar Patterns
the bed of + body of water
Usage Note
Often forms compounds: 'riverbed', 'sea bed' (sometimes 'seabed'), 'lake bed'. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is specifically the floor under a body of water; sense 3 is any supporting layer of material.
Common Mistakes
5. a small heap of one kind of food, usually leaves, rice, or noodles, placed on a
a small heap of one kind of food, usually leaves, rice, or noodles, placed on a plate so that another food can be set on top.
The chef placed grilled salmon on a bed of fresh green spinach.
pattern: on a bed of + food
Each piece of beef came on a small bed of buttery white rice.
The waiter served the prawns on a bed of cold noodles and herbs.
Aunt Rosa arranged the roasted lamb on a bed of warm potatoes.
- a bed of rice
- a bed of lettuce
- a bed of spinach
- a bed of noodles
- served on a bed of
- base
more general; can refer to non-food bases too
Grammar Patterns
serve / arrange / sit on a bed of + food
Usage Note
Almost always appears as 'on a bed of + [food]' in restaurant menus and cooking writing. Typical bases are leaves, rice, noodles, mashed potato, or polenta — soft or flat foods that hold the main item.
Common Mistakes
6. the open, flat area at the back of a pickup truck or other large vehicle, where
the open, flat area at the back of a pickup truck or other large vehicle, where boxes, tools, or other goods are loaded.
Diego loaded six bags of cement into the bed of his red pickup.
pattern: into the bed of + truck
Diego's two large dogs jumped onto the truck bed and lay down in the warm afternoon sun.
compound: truck bed
Heavy rain soaked the boxes that Olu had left in the bed of the truck.
The farmer covered the bed of the pickup with a thick blue tarp.
- truck bed
- pickup bed
- the bed of the truck
- load the bed
- in the bed of
- cargo area
more formal and general; covers vans and trucks of all kinds
- flatbed
specifically a truck whose cargo area has no sides
Grammar Patterns
the bed of + truck/pickup
in the bed of
Usage Note
Most common in American English; British English speakers usually say 'the back of the truck' or 'the load bed'. Often forms the compound 'truck bed' or 'pickup bed'.
Common Mistakes
7. a small patch of soil — usually in a yard, balcony planter, or public space — th
a small patch of soil — usually in a yard, balcony planter, or public space — that has been dug, smoothed, and prepared so flowers, vegetables, or shrubs can be planted there.
Grandma planted tulips in the round bed beside her front gate.
collocation: planted ... in the bed
The gardener pulled weeds from the vegetable bed before sunset.
compound: vegetable bed
Eitan spread fresh soil over the empty flower bed last Saturday.
compound: flower bed
There are neat beds of roses along the path in Hyde Park.
pattern: beds of + plant
Aunt Rosa dug a small herb bed near the kitchen window so she could pick basil easily.
compound: herb bed
- flower bed
- vegetable bed
- rose bed
- raised bed
- weed the bed
Grammar Patterns
a bed of + plant noun
Usage Note
Often appears in compounds such as 'flower bed', 'vegetable bed', or 'rose bed'. Distinguish from sense 3 (BOTTOM) and sense 4 (river/sea bottom): this sense is a prepared patch of soil for cultivation, not a natural surface under water or another object.
Common Mistakes
8. the shortened written form of 'Bachelor of Education' — a university-level quali
the shortened written form of 'Bachelor of Education' — a university-level qualification studied mainly by trainee teachers; can also refer to someone who has earned this qualification.
Yusuf finished his BEd at the University of Manchester last summer.
abbreviation written as BEd
Otto is studying for a BEd because he wants to teach primary school.
pattern: study for a BEd
The school only hires teachers who hold a BEd or a similar degree.
collocation: hold a BEd
After three years of training, Olu graduated with a BEd in early childhood education.
pattern: graduated with a BEd in + field
- study for a BEd
- hold a BEd
- BEd in primary education
- BEd graduate
- Bachelor of Education
the full written form, used in formal documents
- teaching degree
general term that also covers other education qualifications
Usage Note
Almost always written 'BEd' (capital B, capital E, lowercase d) in British and Australian usage; spoken as the three letters 'B-E-D'. Frequently followed by 'in' plus a teaching specialism, e.g. 'BEd in primary education'.
Common Mistakes
(not) a bed of roses
idiomA situation that is not easy or pleasant.
Being a single parent is not a bed of roses.
Did you think starting a business would be a bed of roses?
die in your bed
idiomTo die from old age or illness rather than from an accident or violence.
My grandfather died in his bed at the age of ninety.
She hopes to die in her bed, peacefully and without pain.
To be in a bad mood for the whole day for no clear reason.
Maya must have gotten out of bed on the wrong side today.
Did you get out of bed on the wrong side? You seem grumpy.
To have sex with someone.
She refused to go to bed with him on their first date.
Did they go to bed with each other after the party?
in bed
idiomUsed to refer to sexual activity.
What's he like in bed? I'm curious.
They were caught in bed together by her roommate.
take to your bed
idiomTo go to bed and stay there because you are ill.
After the fever started, she took to her bed for three days.
He took to his bed when the flu hit him hard.
wet the/your bed
idiomTo accidentally urinate in your bed while sleeping.
Many young children wet their bed at night.
Did he wet the bed again last night?
You must accept the consequences of your own actions.
You chose to quit your job, so you've made your bed and must lie in it.
He made his bed by lying, and now he must lie in it.
bed — idiom
a bed of roses
idioma way of life or a situation that feels easy and comfortable, with little trouble or hard work — usually used in the negative to point out that someone's life is harder than it looks.
Running a small bakery is not a bed of roses, Marta told the young trainee.
Life as a touring musician was no bed of roses for Daniel during his first year.
die in your bed
idiomto die peacefully at home from old age or illness, rather than from a sudden accident or violence.
Grandpa Henry was lucky enough to die in his bed at the age of ninety-two.
After surviving two wars, the old soldier finally died in his bed last winter.
to be grumpy or irritated for the whole day without any clear cause, as if your bad mood started the moment you woke up.
Sophie snapped at everyone in the office — she clearly got out of bed on the wrong side.
Did you get out of bed on the wrong side, Eitan? You've been frowning all morning.
to have sex with another person, usually one you are not married to. The phrase is a polite, indirect way of saying this.
Beatriz refused to go to bed with anyone she had only just met at a party.
The novel hints that the duchess went to bed with her husband's brother.
in bed
idiomengaged in sexual activity with another person — used as an indirect way to talk about sex, especially when describing someone's skill or behaviour.
Sophie giggled and told her friends that her new boyfriend was surprisingly good in bed.
Otto joked that his new boyfriend was surprisingly shy in bed.
take to your bed
idiomto lie down in bed and stay there for several days because you feel too unwell to get up, often without a serious medical reason.
Aunt Rosa took to her bed for a week after catching a nasty cold.
When the bad news arrived, Mr Owens took to his bed and refused to see anyone.
wet the bed
idiomto pass urine while sleeping, without meaning to — most often said of a young child who has not yet learned night-time bladder control.
Five-year-old Mia still wets the bed once or twice a week.
Eitan felt embarrassed when his little brother wet the bed at the sleepover.
said to remind someone that the trouble they are in came from their own choices, so they have no right to complain and must deal with it themselves.
Beatriz chose to skip her exams to go travelling — she's made her bed and she must lie in it.
Dad warned Otto that quitting school was risky; now he's made his bed and he must lie in it.
bed — abbreviation
1. short form used in writing for the university degree Bachelor of Education, whic
short form used in writing for the university degree Bachelor of Education, which trains people to become teachers; also used to label a person who holds that degree.
Olu finished her BEd at the University of Glasgow last summer.
qualification name written after a person's name
The school will only hire teachers who already hold a BEd or a similar degree.
hold a BEd
Otto is in the second year of his BEd and teaches part-time at a primary school.
in the second year of a BEd
Most of the new teachers in our district have a BEd from a local university.
have a BEd from [institution]
- hold a BEd
- study for a BEd
- complete a BEd
- B.Ed.
alternative punctuation, same meaning
- Bachelor of Education
the full form; more formal in running text
Usage Note
Usually written with a capital B and lower-case 'd' (BEd) and placed after a person's name on official documents, business cards, or staff lists.
Common Mistakes
2. short form of binge eating disorder, a mental health condition in which a person
short form of binge eating disorder, a mental health condition in which a person regularly eats very large amounts of food in a short time and feels unable to stop.
Dr. Theo explained that BED is more common than many people realise.
BED + singular verb
The clinic offers a six-week therapy programme for adults living with BED.
people living with BED
Eitan was diagnosed with BED after months of secret late-night eating.
be diagnosed with BED
The new study looked at how stress at work can trigger BED in young women.
trigger BED
- be diagnosed with BED
- treat BED
- people with BED
- binge eating disorder
the full clinical name; preferred in speech
Usage Note
Always written in capitals (BED) and used in clinical or health-writing contexts. In everyday conversation, speakers usually say the full form 'binge eating disorder' instead.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All five words name something a person sleeps on, but the level and the look differ. 'Bed' is the everyday, all-purpose word — it covers any standard piece of sleeping furniture in a home or hotel. 'Bunk' is a narrow bed fixed in a frame, usually one of two stacked together; common on ships, in summer camps, and in army barracks. 'Cot' in American English is a small folding bed for guests or campers, while in British English it means a baby's bed with high sides (called a 'crib' in the US). 'Futon' is a thin padded mattress that lies on the floor in Japanese-style use, or folds out from a sofa in Western use. 'Mattress' is just the soft top part you lie on, not the whole piece of furniture — a bed includes a mattress plus a frame or base.
Common collocations
Nouns
- bed sheet
- bed frame
- bed linen
- bedside table
- bedtime story
- river bed
- sea bed
- flower bed
- truck bed
- hospital bed
- double bed
- single bed
- king-size bed
Adverbs
- early to bed
- straight to bed
- wide awake in bed
Phrases
- go to bed
- get out of bed
- make the bed
- jump into bed
- lie in bed
- stay in bed
- put the children to bed
- a bed of roses
- a bed for the night
- you've made your bed, now lie in it
Prepositions
- in bed
- on the bed
- into bed
- out of bed
- under the bed
- to bed
Etymology
The everyday word comes from Old English 'bedd', meaning a sleeping place or a hollow dug in the ground for plants. It shares roots with German 'Bett' and Dutch 'bed', and most scholars trace it back to a much older Indo-European root meaning 'to dig'. That older sense explains why English uses one word for both a place to sleep and a patch of garden soil — both started as a hollow scooped out of the earth. From there the word stretched naturally to other 'flat supporting layers': the floor of a river, a layer of rock or gravel, and even the cargo area at the back of a pickup truck. The abbreviation 'BEd' for 'Bachelor of Education' is a separate modern coinage from Latin 'baccalaureus' (bachelor) plus 'educatio', and is unrelated to the older noun.