couch

couch — noun

1. a cushioned piece of furniture with a back and arm supports, long enough for sev

1.nounA2
Definition

a cushioned piece of furniture with a back and arm supports, long enough for several people to sit or recline on.

Example

After a long day at work, Yael stretched out on the couch.

stretch out on the couch — lie down fully

Felix bought a new gray couch for the living room.

buy a couch for [room]

Common collocations
  • sit on the couch
  • lie on the couch
  • sprawl on the couch
  • couch cushion
Synonyms
  • sofa

    more formal than 'couch'; preferred in British English

  • settee

    older term for a small or medium-sized sofa, often with a wooden frame

  • loveseat

    a small couch designed for two people

Grammar Patterns

a/the + couch

on a/the couch

Usage Note

In American English, couch is the everyday word; sofa is slightly more formal. In British English, sofa is more common than couch.

Common Mistakes

I sat on the coach.
I sat on the couch.
'coach' means a bus, a trainer, or a teacher; 'couch' is the piece of furniture. The two words sound similar but have very different meanings.

2. a long, flat-topped bed found in medical clinics, where patients lie down to be

2.nounB2
Definition

a long, flat-topped bed found in medical clinics, where patients lie down to be examined or treated during a visit.

Example

The nurse asked Sahil to lie down on the examination couch.

examination couch

Dr. Nakamura checked the patient while he sat on the edge of the couch.

Common collocations
  • examination couch
  • treatment couch
  • doctor's couch
  • lie on the couch
Synonyms
  • examination table

    more general term; often used in clinics, not just for reclining but also for sitting

  • therapy couch

    specifically for psychological or physical therapy sessions

Grammar Patterns

on the couch

examination couch

doctor's couch

Usage Note

Frequently used in the phrases examination couch, treatment couch, or doctor's couch. In therapy contexts, it may also be called a psychoanalytic couch.

couch — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Couch and sofa both refer to a long, upholstered seat for two or more people. In American English, couch is the everyday word while sofa sounds slightly more formal or decorative. In British English, sofa is the dominant term. Settee is an older word for a smaller, often wooden-framed seat; it is less common today and can sound old-fashioned. A loveseat is a small couch designed for exactly two people, often used in pairs or as part of a living-room set. For everyday conversation, couch (US) or sofa (UK) are the safest choices; couch is more relaxed and sofa works well in any situation.

sofa ↗setteeloveseat

Common collocations

Nouns

  • couch cushion
  • couch cover
  • couch bed

Phrases

Prepositions

  • on the couch
  • off the couch

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word couch came into English from Old French coucher, meaning 'to lay down or put to bed.' That French verb came from Latin collocare, a combination of com- ('together') and locare ('to place'). The furniture sense developed naturally from the idea of a place to lie down.