What does couche in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word couche in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use couche in French.

The word couche in French means nappy, layer, stratum, bed, childbirth, class, stretched out, crouched, crouching, couching, spend the night, sleep, sleep with, put to bed, lay down, inscribe, sleep with, go to bed, coucher, setting, go to bed, tip over, fall on its side, roll on its side, be flattened, fold, go out, you've made your bed, now you must lie in it, ozone layer, sector of society, level of society, coat of paint, valence shell, lying curled up in a ball, outer layer, disposable nappy, boundary layer, atmospheric boundary layer, middle class, middle layer, middle stratum, working class, royal bed, social class, social stratum, stratum of society, lying on your side, nappy, night owl, somebody who likes to go to bed early, second coat, second layer, lay on thick, bench press, lay it on thick, bring up again, not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, be as thick as two short planks, be lying down, be in bed, be lying on your back, have a miscarriage, miscarriage, slut, tart, this is going to take ages, coated paper, share 's bed, base coat, stay lying down, remain lying down, stay in bed, undercoat, hole in the ozone layer, hole in the ozone layer. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word couche

nappy

nom féminin (couche-culotte) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut changer les couches des nourrissons plusieurs fois par jour.
You have to change babies' diapers several times a day.

layer

nom féminin (épaisseur)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le pâtissier a ajouté une couche de crème chantilly sur les fraises. J'ai ajouté une couche de peinture à la porte de devant.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. I added a new coat of paint to the front door.

stratum

nom féminin (strate) (scientific)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le sol se compose de différentes couches.
The earth is made up of different layers.

bed

nom féminin (littéraire (lit)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette dame a l'heur de partager la couche du Prince.
This lady has the good fortune to share the Prince's bed.

childbirth

nom féminin pluriel (situation d'une femme accouchant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Mon arrière-grand-mère est morte en couches.

class

nom féminin (catégorie sociale)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La couche ouvrière est à la peine en période de crise financière.
The working class finds itself in difficulty during times of financial crisis.

stretched out

adjectif (allongé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Le chien est couché dans sa niche.
The dog is lying in his kennel.

crouched, crouching

adjectif (courbé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Les cyclistes roulaient couchés sur leur guidon.
The cyclists rode crouched (or: crouching) over their handlebars.

couching

nom masculin (broderie) (embroidery)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Seules de rares personnes maîtrisent encore l'art des couchés.
Very few people are still versed in the art of couching.

spend the night

verbe intransitif (passer une nuit quelque part)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pendant le voyage, je coucherai à l'hôtel.
I'll spend the night in a hotel during the trip.

sleep

verbe intransitif (dormir)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Ma femme couche toujours en pyjama.
My wife always sleeps in pyjamas.

sleep with

verbe intransitif (familier (avoir des relations sexuelles avec [qqn]) (informal)

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])
Les jalouses disent que Sandrine a couché pour réussir.
Jealous tongues are saying Sandrine slept her way to the top.

put to bed

verbe transitif (mettre au lit)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Sandra a couché les enfants après le dîner.
Sandra puts the children to bed after supper.

lay down

verbe transitif (placer horizontalement)

(phrasal verb, transitive, separable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, divisible--for example, "call off" [=cancel], "call the game off," "call off the game.")
Jessica a couché ce long vase pour ne pas le renverser.
Jessica lay the long vase down, so as not to knock it over.

inscribe

verbe transitif (soutenu (mettre par écrit) (formal)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Le capitaine couche les événements de la journée sur le journal de bord.
The captain inscribed the day's events in the ship's log.

sleep with

verbe transitif indirect (familier (avoir des relations sexuelles avec [qqn]) (informal)

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])
Est-ce que tu crois que Mathieu couche avec Émilie ?
Do you think Matthew's sleeping with Emily?

go to bed

nom masculin (action de se coucher)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
À quelle heure est prévue le coucher ? // Prenez ce médicament au coucher.
Take this medicine at bedtime.

coucher

nom masculin (cérémonie du coucher) (historical, Gallicism)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
C'était un honneur d'assister au coucher du Roi à Versailles.
It was an honour to attend the King's coucher at Versailles.

setting

nom masculin (disparition d'un astre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
On peut prendre de magnifiques photos du soleil à son coucher.
The setting of the sun offers the perfect opportunity to take some great photos.

go to bed

verbe pronominal (se mettre au lit)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je me couche rarement avant minuit.
I rarely go to bed before midnight.

tip over

verbe pronominal (se renverser)

Le chauffeur a perdu le contrôle de son camion, qui s'est couché sur le côté droit.

fall on its side, roll on its side

verbe pronominal (se renverser)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le chauffeur a perdu le contrôle de son camion, qui s'est couché sur le côté droit.

be flattened

verbe pronominal (incliner, se courber)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les récoltes se couchent sous le vent.
The harvest is being flattened by the wind.

fold, go out

verbe pronominal (argot (Sports, Jeu : abandonner) (Cards)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Ce boxeur s'est couché à la cinquième reprise.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. She could see she was never going to win, so she threw in the towel.

you've made your bed, now you must lie in it

(on a que ce qu'on mérite)

ozone layer

nom féminin (atmosphère : zone de protection)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La couche d'ozone protège du rayonnement solaire.
The ozone layer protects us from sun's radiation.

sector of society, level of society

nom féminin (classe sociale)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

coat of paint

nom féminin (revêtement protecteur ou décoratif)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

valence shell

nom féminin (chimie : couche périphérique d'atome)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La couche de valence est la couche périphérique de l'atome.

lying curled up in a ball

adjectif (sur le côté, les jambes repliées)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
On le trouva couché en chien de fusil.

outer layer

nom féminin (chimie : couche périphérique d'un atome)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

disposable nappy

nom féminin (lange à usage unique) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La couche jetable n'est pas lavable et se jette après usage.

boundary layer

nom féminin (interface entre corps et fluide)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

atmospheric boundary layer

nom féminin (physique : partie basse de l'atmosphère)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

middle class

nom féminin (figuré (classe sociale intermédiaire) (society)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La couche moyenne de la société serait déterminée par des revenus moyens.

middle layer, middle stratum

nom féminin (strate intermédiaire) (geology)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les archéologues ont trouvé des débris humains dans une couche moyenne datant de 13 000 ans.

working class

nom féminin (classe laborieuse)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La classe laborieuse d'un pays est souvent appelée classe populaire.

royal bed

nom féminin (lit du roi)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

social class, social stratum, stratum of society

nom féminin (classe socioprofessionnelle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette activité professionnelle est classée dans la couche sociale intermédiaire.

lying on your side

locution adjectivale (allongé sur le côté)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le chien était couché sur le flanc.

nappy

nom féminin (culotte de bébé) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
On n'utilise plus de couche-culotte, mais des couches jetables.

night owl

nom masculin et féminin invariable (qui aime se coucher tard) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
D'aussi loin que je me souvienne, Cécile a toujours été une couche-tard.

somebody who likes to go to bed early

nom masculin et féminin invariable (qui aime se coucher tôt)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Gérard ne risque pas de venir à la fête ce soir parce que c'est un couche-tôt et qu'il doit déjà être au lit à cette heure-ci.
There's no chance Gerard will come to the party tonight, because he likes to go to be early and he'll already be tucked up under the covers by that time.

second coat, second layer

nom féminin (revêtement : couche supplémentaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut attendre 24 heures avant de passer la deuxième couche.

lay on thick

nom féminin (figuré (rappel insistant) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pour être sûr que je m'en souvienne bien, ma mère m'en a mis une deuxième couche.

bench press

nom masculin (exercice musculaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le développé-couché consiste à soulever des haltères en étant couché sur le dos.

lay it on thick

locution verbale (familier (insister lourdement) (slang)

bring up again

locution verbale (familier (insister à nouveau)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, be as thick as two short planks

locution verbale (figuré, familier (être stupide) (UK, slang)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be lying down, be in bed

locution verbale (dormir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Olivier est encore couché, il est rentré tard hier.

be lying on your back

locution verbale (être allongé sur le dos)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have a miscarriage

(avortement spontané)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Beaucoup de femmes font des fausses couches.

miscarriage

nom féminin (avortement spontané)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
En cas d'anomalie du fœtus, les fausses couches sont fréquentes.
In cases of fetal anomaly miscarriages are common.

slut, tart

nom féminin (familier, péjoratif (femme facile) (offensive!!!)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Elle a la réputation d'être une Marie-couche-toi-là.
She has the reputation of being a slut.

this is going to take ages

(péjoratif (c'est loin d'être fini)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

coated paper

nom masculin (papier d'impression)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les papiers impression-écriture sont des papiers couchés.

share 's bed

locution verbale (vieilli (coucher avec [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il partagea la couche de Marie bien avant leur mariage.

base coat

nom féminin (première application) (paint, varnish)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut appliquer une première couche de peinture et attendre quelques jours pour la suivante.

stay lying down, remain lying down

locution verbale (ne pas se lever)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

stay in bed

locution verbale (être alité)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

undercoat

nom féminin (peinture, vernis) (paint, varnish)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut appliquer une sous-couche d'apprêt avant de peindre.

hole in the ozone layer

nom masculin (diminution de l'ozone atmosphérique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le trou dans la couche d'ozone est une baisse d'ozone stratosphérique filtrant les rayons ultraviolets.

hole in the ozone layer

nom masculin (baisse d'ozone atmosphérique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le trou de la couche d'ozone est localisé en Antarctique et se forme durant l'été austral.

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