couch

1 of 2

verb

ˈkau̇ch 

couched; couching; couches

transitive verb

1

: to lay (oneself) down for rest or sleep

The lion couched himself by a tree.

2

: to embroider (a design) by laying down a thread and fastening it with small stitches at regular intervals

3

: to place or hold level and pointed forward ready for use

Couching his lance, he seated himself firmly in his saddle …

—W. Somerset Maugham

4

: to phrase or express in a specified manner

The comments were couched in strong terms.

intransitive verb

1

: to lie down or recline for sleep or rest

the odd way a camel couches

2

: to lie in ambush

The tiger couches in the thick grass, watching its prey move closer.

couch

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an article of furniture for sitting or reclining

b

: a couch on which a patient reclines when undergoing psychoanalysis

2

: the den of an animal (such as an otter)

Phrases

on the couch

: receiving psychoanalytic treatment

Synonyms

Verb

• articulate
• clothe
• express
• formulate
• phrase
• put
• say
• state
• word

Noun

• chesterfield
• davenport
• divan
• lounge
• settee
• sofa
• squab

Examples of couch in a Sentence

Verb

I'm trying to couch this delicately: I don't think we should date anymore.

I couched behind the partition so as to avoid an awkward situation with my ex.

Noun

find yourself a place on the couch and make yourself at home

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Fifth, don’t couch a statement of support in legal-ese. —Evan Morris, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2024

Watkins offered a similar sentiment, couching it in the language of sports. —Gena Cox, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Noun

There are comfortable couches, tables, and plenty of space for a mosh pit under the stage. —Katya Soldak, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

That’s when Grateful Gatherings stepped in and provided Coleman with a couch, bed frame and brand new mattress and bedding, a far cry from the ironing board Coleman used to lay his head on while living in a U-Haul shed. —Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French cucher, from Latin collocare to set in place — more at collocate

Noun

Middle English couche bed, from Anglo-French kuche, from cucher

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing couch

• casting couch
• couch grass
• couch potato
• on the couch
• studio couch

Kids Definition

couch

1 of 2 verb

ˈkau̇ch 

1

: to lie down for rest or sleep

2

: to bring down : lower

a knight charging with couched lance

3

: to phrase in a specified manner

a letter couched in polite terms

couch

2 of 2 noun

: a piece of furniture (as a sofa) that one can sit or lie on

Medical Definition

couch

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈkau̇ch 

: to treat (a cataract or a person who has a cataract) by displacing the lens of the eye into the vitreous body

couch

2 of 2 noun

: an article of furniture used (as by a patient undergoing psychoanalysis) for sitting or reclining