couch

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An item of furniture, often upholstered, for the comfortable seating of more than one person; a sofa.

   At a casting workshop, an actor was performing a blank scene […] and he had not bothered to make any choices about why he was on stage, what his motivation was, what he was playing. He had decided who he was and where he was (on a couch with his girlfriend) but had not decided what he wanted. So the performance was flat and lifeless.

2. 2
   noun

   A bed, a resting-place.

   O Sleepe, O gentle Sleepe, […] O thou dull God, why lyeſt thou with the vilde, / In loathſome Beds, and leau'st the Kingly Couch, / A Watch-caſe, or a common Larum-Bell?

3. 3
   noun

   The den of an otter.

   A couch was located under the roots of an uprooted tree in a medium dense spruce patch and the second couch was located under a free standing spruce along a regulation channel.

4. 4
   noun

   A preliminary layer, as of colour or size.

   For the re-lining, the usual method is to strain a new and strong cloth of an even surface upon the stretcher, to rub it down smooth with pumice stone, and then to give it an even couch of paste, a similar couch is then to be applied to the back of the picture after it has been freed from all inequalities; […]

5. 5
   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

6. 6
   noun

   Psychotherapy.

   He spent years on the couch going over his traumatic childhood.

7. 7
   noun

   Voters who opt out of voting, usually by staying home on their couch.

   If Kamala Harris replaces Joe Biden in the 2024 election, analysts warn that she will lose to the couch.

8. 8
   verb

   To lie down; to recline (upon a couch or other place of repose).

   Why did you ſo, doth not the Gentleman / Deſerue as full as fortunate a bed, / As euer Beatrice ſhall couch upon?

Etymology

From Middle English couchen, from Old French (se) couchier, (se) colchier (“go to bed, lay down”), from Latin collocāre (“set in place”), from com- (“together, with”) + locāre. Doublet of collocate.