The word console has two different meanings:

1. To comfort someone who is sad, disappointed, or upset. When your friend doesn't make the basketball team, you might console them by listening to their feelings and reminding them they can try again next year. After losing a championship game, teammates often console each other, acknowledging the disappointment while showing support. The goal of consoling someone isn't to make them pretend everything is fine, but to help them feel less alone in their sadness. Parents console children after nightmares, friends console each other after losses, and sometimes we need to console ourselves when things don't go our way.
2. A panel or cabinet containing controls and displays. A video game console like an Xbox or PlayStation connects to your TV and lets you play games. In a recording studio, the mixing console has dozens of knobs and sliders for adjusting sound. Airplane pilots use a console with instruments showing altitude, speed, and direction. The center console in a car sits between the front seats and often holds cup holders and storage compartments. This type of console keeps important controls organized in one accessible place.