Definitions for pillow
ˈpɪl oʊpil·low

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pillowverb

   a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person

2. pillow, restverb

   rest on or as if on a pillow

   "pillow your head"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pillownoun

   A soft cushion used to support the head in bed.

2. pillowverb

   To rest as on a pillow.

3. Etymology: From pilwe, from pylwe, pylu, pyle, from pulwin, from pulvinus, of unknown origin. Cognate with Dutch peluw, Pfühl.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. PILLOWnoun

   A bag of down or feathers laid under the head to sleep on.

   Etymology: pyle , Saxon; pulewe, Dutch.

   Pluck stout men’s pillows from below their heads. William Shakespeare.

   One turf shall serve as pillow for us both,
   One heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth. William Shakespeare.

   A merchant died that was very far in debt, his goods and houshold stuff were set forth to sale; a stranger would needs buy a pillow there, saying, this pillow sure is good to sleep on, since he could sleep on it that owed so many debts. Francis Bacon.

   Thy melted maid,
   Corrupted by thy lover’s gold,
   His letter at thy pillow laid. John Donne.

   Their feathers serve to stuff our beds and pillows, yielding us soft and warm lodging. John Ray, on the Creation.

2. To Pillowverb

   To rest any thing on a pillow.

   When the sun in bed,
   Curtain’d with cloudy red,
   Pillows his chin upon an orient wave,
   The flocking shadows pale
   Troop to th’ infernal jail. John Milton.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pillow

   A pillow is a support of the body at rest for comfort, therapy, or decoration. Pillows are used in different variations by many species, including humans. Some types of pillows include throw pillows, body pillows, decorative pillows, and many more. Pillows that aid sleeping are a form of bedding that supports the head and neck. Other types of pillows are designed to support the body when lying down or sitting. There are also pillows that consider human body shape for increased comfort during sleep. Decorative pillows used on people, couches or chairs are sometimes referred to as cushions.In contemporary western culture, pillows consist of a plain or patterned fabric envelope (known as a pillowcase) which contains a soft stuffing, typically synthetic and typically standardized in sizes and shape. Pillows have been historically made of a variety of natural materials and many cultures continue to use pillows made from natural materials in the world. The word pillow comes from Middle English pilwe, from Old English pyle (akin to Old High German pfuliwi) and from Latin pulvinus. The first known use of the word pillow was before the 12th century.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pillownoun

   anything used to support the head of a person when reposing; especially, a sack or case filled with feathers, down, hair, or other soft material

2. Pillownoun

   a piece of metal or wood, forming a support to equalize pressure; a brass; a pillow block

3. Pillownoun

   a block under the inner end of a bowsprit

4. Pillownoun

   a kind of plain, coarse fustian

5. Pillowverb

   to rest or lay upon, or as upon, a pillow; to support; as, to pillow the head

6. Etymology: [OE. pilwe, AS. pyle, fr. L. pilvinus.]

FreebaseRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Pillow

   A pillow is a large cushion support for the head or other parts of the body, usually used while sleeping on a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair. There are also throw pillows, which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort. A cushion is a soft bag filled with air or padding like feathers or foam rubber. In the United Kingdom, these types of pillows are called a cushion, with the word pillow used for pillows on a bed.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pillow

   pil′ō, n. a cushion filled with feathers, &c., for resting the head on: any cushion: a block of metal for bearing the end of a shaft, or the end of a bowsprit: the socket of a pivot.—v.t. to lay or rest on for support.—v.i. to rest the head on a pillow.—ns. Pill′ow-bier, -beer, -case, -slip, a cover which can be drawn over a pillow; Pill′ow-cup, a last cup before going to bed.—adjs. Pill′owed, supported by, or provided with, a pillow; Pill′owy, like a pillow: soft. [A.S. pyle—L. pulvīnus.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pillow

   A block of timber whereon the inner end of the bowsprit is supported.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. PILLOW

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pillow is ranked #10382 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Pillow surname appeared 3,103 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 would have the surname Pillow.
   
   73.4% or 2,280 total occurrences were White.
   21.4% or 666 total occurrences were Black.
   2.3% or 72 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   1.6% or 51 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   0.9% or 28 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
   0.1% or 6 total occurrences were Asian.

Matched Categories

1. • Lay

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'pillow' in Nouns Frequency: #2803

How to pronounce pillow?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say pillow in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of pillow in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of pillow in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of pillow in a Sentence

1. Glen Plake:

   I found every personal item in that tent except Gregory Costa and Gregory Costa sleeping bag, i found Gregory Costa glasses, Gregory Costa gloves, my jacket Gregory Costa was using for a pillow...

2. The Democrats:

   It’s not in a bloody Civil War, it’s a revolution that is sold to you as progress when it is not, if America were patient, this White House will be happy to smother it with a pillow.

3. Leonard:

   I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm, your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy, golden storm, yes many loved before us, I know we are not new, in city and in forest they smiled like me and you, but now it's come to distances and both of us must try, your eyes are soft with sorrow, Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.

4. Amanda Coates:

   The next day I woke up, and my skin had come off onto the pillow, i went to the doctor immediately because of the pain and severe swelling.

5. Charlotte Bronte:

   A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.

Popularity rank by frequency of use