noun

1. an article of furniture on which one may sit or lie down; sofa; divan
2. any resting place
3. Old Poet. a place for sleeping; bed
4. Obsolete an animal's lair or den
5. Brewing a layer of grain spread to germinate
6. Fine Arts a priming layer or coat, as of paint or varnish

Etymology: ME & OFr couche, a bed, lair: see couchthe

transitive verb

1. to lay or put on or as on a couch, as to sleep: now usually used reflexively or in the passive voice
2. to lower or bring down; esp., to lower (a spear, lance, etc.) to an attacking position
3. to put in specific or particular words; phrase; express the speech was couched in flowery language
4. to embroider with thread laid flat and fastened down with fine stitches
5. Archaic to put in a layer
6. Obsolete to hide
7. Brewing to spread (grain) in a thin layer to germinate
8. Surgery to remove (a cataract) by using a needle to push down the crystalline lens of the eye

Etymology: ME couchen < OFr coucher, to lie down < L collocare, to lay < com-, together + locare, to place: see local

intransitive verb

1. to lie down on a bed, as to sleep; recline
2. to lie in hiding or in ambush
3. to lie in a pile, as decomposing leaves