Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - comfort

~1 n 1 »EMOTIONAL« a feeling of being more calm, cheerful, or hopeful after you have been worried or unhappy  (I looked to my family for comfort when things got difficult at work. | bring/give comfort)  (The service is there to give the advice and comfort people need. | take/draw/derive comfort from)  (Mrs. Oliphant drew great comfort from the familiar hymns. | it's no/some/any comfort)  (If it's any comfort, we didn't win anything either.) 2 »PHYSICAL« a feeling of being physically relaxed and satisfied, so that nothing is hurting you, making you feel too hot or cold etc  (for comfort)  (I usually dress for comfort rather than style. | too cold/hot/high etc for comfort (=physically unpleasant for a particular reason) | in comfort/in the comfort of)  (Now you can watch your favorite movies in the comfort of your own home. | built/made/designed for comfort)  (a new climbing boot designed for comfort and safety) 3 »MONEY/POSSESSIONS« a way of living in which you have all the possessions, money etc that you need or want  (I intend to retire in comfort!) 4 comforts the things that make your life more pleasant and comfortable, especially things that are not necessary  (all the comforts of home)  (The beach cabin has all the comforts of home. | material comforts (=money and possessions) | creature comforts (=things such as comfortable chairs and warm rooms))  (Alicia was too fond of her creature comforts to go camping.) 5 »SB/STH THAT HELPS« someone or something that helps you feel happier or calmer when you have been worried or unhappy  (be a comfort to)  (Jerry's been a real comfort to me since Max died. | comfort eating/shopping etc (=eating etc that makes you feel better) | it's a comfort)  (It's a comfort to know there's someone to keep an eye on the kids.) 6 too close/near etc for comfort something that is too close for comfort makes you feel worried, unhappy, or uncomfortable, because it is dangerous in some way  (The cars were whizzing past us much too close for comfort.) 7 cold/small comfort a small piece of good news that does not make you feel better about a bad situation  (The promise that I might one day be rehoused was cold comfort.) - comfortless adj ~2 v to make someone feel calmer and more hopeful by being kind and sympathetic to them when they are worried or unhappy  (Nothing I could do or say could comfort Diane when her son died.) - comforting adj - comfortingly adv