4 → see also cold comfort
5 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you refer to a person, thing, or idea as a comfort , you mean that it helps you to stop worrying or makes you feel less unhappy. □ It's a comfort talking to you. □ Being able to afford a drink would be a comfort in these tough times.
6 VERB If you comfort someone, you make them feel less worried, unhappy, or upset, for example by saying kind things to them. □ [V n] Ned put his arm around her, trying to comfort her.
7 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Comforts are things which make your life easier and more pleasant, such as electrical devices you have in your home. □ She enjoys the material comforts married life has brought her. □ Electricity provides us with warmth and light and all our modern home comforts.
8 → see also creature comforts
9 PHRASE If you say that something is, for example, too close for comfort , you mean you are worried because it is closer than you would like it to be. □ The bombs fell in the sea, many too close for comfort. □ Interest rates and inflation were too high for comfort.
com|fort|able ◆◇◇ /kʌ mftəb ə l/
1 ADJ If a piece of furniture or an item of clothing is comfortable , it makes you feel physically relaxed when you use it, for example because it is soft. □ …a comfortable fireside chair. □ Trainers are so comfortable to wear.
2 ADJ If a building or room is comfortable , it makes you feel physically relaxed when you spend time in it, for example because it is warm and has nice furniture. □ A home should be comfortable and friendly. □ …somewhere warm and comfortable. ● com|fort|ably /kʌ mftəbli/ ADV [usu ADV -ed] □ …the comfortably-furnished living room.
3 ADJ If you are comfortable , you are physically relaxed because of the place or position you are sitting or lying in. □ Lie down on your bed and make yourself comfortable. □ She tried to manoeuvre her body into a more comfortable position. ● com|fort|ably ADV [ADV with v] □ Are you sitting comfortably? □ He would be tucked comfortably into bed.
4 ADJ If you say that someone is comfortable , you mean that they have enough money to be able to live without financial problems. □ 'Is he rich?'—'He's comfortable.' □ She came from a stable, comfortable, middle-class family. ● com|fort|ably ADV □ Cayton describes himself as comfortably well-off.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] In a race, competition, or election, if you have a comfortable lead, you are likely to win it easily. If you gain a comfortable victory or majority, you win easily. □ By half distance we held a comfortable two-lap lead. □ He appeared to be heading for a comfortable victory. ● com|fort|ably ADV [ADV with v] □ They should have won comfortably, but had to settle for a draw.
6 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you feel comfortable with a particular situation or person, you feel confident and relaxed with them. □ [+ with ] Nervous politicians might well feel more comfortable with a step-by-step approach. □ [+ with ] He liked me and I felt comfortable with him. □ [+ about ] I'll talk to them, but I won't feel comfortable about it. ● com|fort|ably ADV [ADV after v] □ They talked comfortably of their plans.
7 ADJ When a sick or injured person is said to be comfortable , they are in a stable physical condition. □ He was described as comfortable in hospital last night.
8 ADJ A comfortable life, job, or situation does not cause you any problems or worries. □ …a comfortable teaching job at a university. □ Kohl's retirement looks far from comfortable.
com|fort|ably /kʌ mftəbli/
1 ADV [ADV with v] If you do something comfortably , you do it easily. □ Only take upon yourself those things that you know you can manage comfortably. □ Three of the six have comfortably exceeded their normal life expectancy.
2 → see also comfortable
co m|fort|ably o ff ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone is comfortably off , they have enough money to be able to live without financial problems. □ He had no plans to retire even though he is now very comfortably off.
com|fort|er /kʌ mfə r tə r / (comforters )
1 N‑COUNT A comforter is a person or thing that comforts you. □ He became her devoted friend and comforter.
2 N‑COUNT A comforter is a large cover filled with feathers or similar material which you put over yourself in bed instead of a sheet and blankets. [AM ] in BRIT, use duvet , quilt
co m|fort food N‑UNCOUNT If you call something comfort food , you mean it is enjoyable to eat and makes you feel happier, although it may not be very good for your health. □ For me, spaghetti bolognese is the ultimate comfort food.
com|fort|ing /kʌ mfə r t I ŋ/ ADJ If you say that something is comforting , you mean it makes you feel less worried or unhappy. □ My mother had just died and I found the book very comforting. □ In the midst of his feelings of impotence, a comforting thought arrived. ● com|fort|ing|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, ADV adj] □ 'Everything's under control here,' her mother said comfortingly.
co m|fort zone (comfort zones ) N‑COUNT If a situation or activity is out of your comfort zone , it does not make you feel secure, comfortable, or in control. □ I like to do things that take me out of my comfort zone.
com|frey /kʌ mfri/ N‑UNCOUNT Comfrey is a herb that is used to make drinks and medicines.
com|fy /kʌ mfi/ (comfier , comfiest ) ADJ A comfy item of clothing, piece of furniture, room, or position is a comfortable one. [INFORMAL ] □ Loose-fitting shirts are comfy. □ …a comfy chair.