comfort

1 noun

1 EMOTIONAL (U) a feeling of being more calm, cheerful, or hopeful after you have been worried or unhappy: I looked to my family for comfort when things got difficult at work. | bring/give comfort: The service is there to give the advice and comfort people need. | take/draw/derive comfort from: Mrs. Oliphant drew great comfort from the familiar hymns. | it's no/some/any comfort: If it's any comfort, we didn't win anything either.

2 PHYSICAL (U) a feeling of being physically relaxed and satisfied, so that nothing is hurting you, making you feel too hot or cold etc

(for comfort): I usually dress for comfort rather than style. | too cold/hot/high etc for comfort (=physically unpleasant for a particular reason) | in comfort/in the comfort of: Now you can watch your favorite movies in the comfort of your own home. | built/made/designed for comfort: a new climbing boot designed for comfort and safety

3 MONEY/POSSESSIONS (U) a way of living in which you have all the possessions, money etc that you need or want: I intend to retire in comfort!

4 comforts (plural) the things that make your life more pleasant and comfortable, especially things that are not necessary: all the comforts of home: The beach cabin has all the comforts of home. | material comforts (=money and possessions) | creature comforts (=things such as comfortable chairs and warm rooms): Alicia was too fond of her creature comforts to go camping.

5 SB/STH THAT HELPS (C) someone or something that helps you feel happier or calmer when you have been worried or unhappy

(be a comfort to): Jerry's been a real comfort to me since Max died. | comfort eating/shopping etc (=eating etc that makes you feel better) | it's a comfort: It's a comfort to know there's someone to keep an eye on the kids.

6 too close/near etc for comfort something that is too close for comfort makes you feel worried, unhappy, or uncomfortable, because it is dangerous in some way: The cars were whizzing past us much too close for comfort.

7 cold/small comfort a small piece of good news that does not make you feel better about a bad situation: The promise that I might one day be rehoused was cold comfort.

- comfortless adjective 2 verb (T) to make someone feel calmer and more hopeful by being kind and sympathetic to them when they are worried or unhappy: Nothing I could do or say could comfort Diane when her son died. - comforting adjective - comfortingly adverb