to lay a foundation or a base for future development

cushion; mat; pad

to pay someone else's expense with the expectation of being reimbursed later

to spread out bedding, cushioning, or a protective layer

a soft pad or pillow used for sitting on a chair, sofa, or the floor

back cushion

a removable or fixed inner sole in a shoe for comfort or fit

air cushion (as on hovercraft)

a pad, lining, or piece of cushioning material

a person or situation used as a tool to improve one's status or career

seat cushion for a chair or vehicle

to serve as a sacrificial victim or suffer for someone else's actions or mistakes

to spread litter in a cowshed, pigsty, etc.

a thin piece of material used to fill a gap or space between objects, such as a shim or washer

material such as straw or sawdust spread on the floor for animal bedding

litter (animal bedding)

a vehicle that travels over surfaces such as water or ice supported by a cushion of air

advance (of funds)

a beverage coaster

to advance funds

Dianjiang, a county in Chongqing

a mattress or thick under-quilt used for padding a bed

to cover a financial shortfall by using funds intended for another purpose or by borrowing some money

an absorbent item worn by women during menstruation; sanitary towel or menstrual pad

traditional hand-woven Tibetan wool rug or mat

palm fiber mat

a dressing or pad applied to a wound to stop bleeding

to fill a blank space or time slot in a schedule or layout, such as in a newspaper column or a television program

a mouse pad (Taiwan usage)

the soft pad on an animal's paw

straw mattress; palliasse

the part of an insurance claim paid by the insured, referred to as excess in UK English

floor mat; bathroom mat; car mat; doormat

to level (surfaces)

a piece of heat-resistant material used to safely grip or handle hot pots and pans

groundsheet (for camping etc)

to pay for someone; to advance money for someone

mouse pad

cotton-padded mattress

to elevate or increase the height of something by placing a support, padding, or jack underneath

a small cushion made of fabric, often used to hold sewing needles or pins.