"cushioning" in the noun sense
1. padding, cushioning
artifact consisting of soft or resilient material used to fill or give shape or protect or add comfort
"cushioning" in the verb sense
1. cushion, buffer, soften
protect from impact
"cushion the blow"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
Princeton University "About WordNet®."
WordNet®. Princeton University. 2010.
View WordNet® License