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comforter

comforter

1 2.4
A small rubber or plastic object a baby sucks to feel calm
  • noun
  • /ˈkʌmfərtər/
  • UK
translation icon : chupete
  • Parents often provide a comforter for their infants to help them feel secure.

Examples

Synonyms

pacifier
vscomforter
  • US
16 1.4

A rubber or plastic object that a baby sucks to feel calm

is the same object but differs only in the name used
soother
vscomforter
  • Canadian
1 3.3

An object like a pacifier that calms a baby

is the specific rubber or plastic device made for infant sucking or biting
baby's dummy
vscomforter
  • UK
1.0

A rubber or plastic thing a baby sucks to feel calm

is the same object but differs only in the common label used

Compounds

A person who says things meant to help but makes someone feel worse

How Soothing

comforter
  • UK
1 2.4
security blanket
  • Baby Talk
1 3.2

Surface Forms

comforter singular
comforters plural

Morphology

comforter = comfort (semi-transparent) = comfort + er

The pacifier sense is built from 'comfort' + '-er', but the noun has become a fixed label for an infant soother rather than a fully predictable agent noun.

Etymology

Comforter for a baby's pacifier gets its name from the noun comfort, meaning 'to calm or soothe'. So a baby's comforter is a small object that 'gives comfort' and helps the baby settle.