noun
futon
FOO-ton
noun
1
A thin, padded cotton mattress that can be laid on the floor or placed on a folding frame that converts between a bed and a sofa.
"We keep a futon in the spare room for guests."
"He unfolded the futon into a bed before going to sleep."
2
A round cushion, traditionally woven from rushes, used for sitting in Zen meditation.
How to Use Futon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA foldable mattress-sofa combo, often used as a spare bed or in small apartments.
Common pairings
fold out a futon
futon frame
sleep on a futon
Word Forms
futons plural, futon plural
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Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese futon (布団), which traces back through Chinese to words for "bulrush" and "round object," describing the original woven cushion.