(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ someone, you make it easier for them to do something, for example by doing part of the work for them or by giving them advice or money.
He has ~ed to raise a lot of money...
You can of course ~ by giving them a donation directly...
If you’re not willing to ~ me, I’ll find somebody who will.
VERB: V to-inf/inf, V, V n
•
Help is also a noun.
Thanks very much for your ~...
Always ask the pharmacist for ~...
= assistance
N-UNCOUNT
2.
If you say that something ~s, you mean that it makes something easier to do or get, or that it improves a situation to some extent.
The right style of swimsuit can ~ to hide, minimise or emphasise what you want it to...
Building more motorways and by-passes will ~ the environment by reducing pollution and traffic jams in towns and cities...
Understanding these rare molecules will ~ chemists to find out what is achievable...
I could cook your supper, though, if that would ~.
VERB: V to-inf/inf, V n, V n to-inf/inf, V
3.
If you ~ someone go somewhere or move in some way, you give them support so that they can move more easily.
Martin ~ed Tanya over the rail...
She ~ed her sit up in bed so she could hold her baby.
VERB: V n prep/adv, V n inf/to-inf
4.
If you say that someone or something has been a ~ or has been some ~, you mean that they have ~ed you to solve a problem.
The books were not much ~.
N-SING: a N, also no det
5.
Help is action taken to rescue a person who is in danger. You shout ‘~!’ when you are in danger in order to attract someone’s attention so that they can come and rescue you.
He was screaming for ~...
‘Help!’ I screamed, turning to run.
N-UNCOUNT
6.
In computing, ~, or the ~ menu, is a file that gives you information and advice, for example about how to use a particular program. (COMPUTING)
If you get stuck, click on Help.
N-UNCOUNT
7.
If you ~ yourself to something, you serve yourself or you take it for yourself. If someone tells you to ~ yourself, they are telling you politely to serve yourself anything you want or to take anything you want.
There’s bread on the table. Help yourself...
Just ~ yourself to leaflets.
VERB: V pron-refl, V pron-refl to n
8.
If someone ~s themselves to something, they steal it. (INFORMAL)
Has somebody ~ed himself to some film star’s diamonds?
VERB: V pron-refl to n
9.
see also ~ing
10.
If you can’t ~ the way you feel or behave, you cannot control it or stop it happening. You can also say that you can’t ~ yourself.
I can’t ~ feeling sorry for the poor man...
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR -ing, PHR it , PHR pron-refl, PHR n
11.
If you say you can’t ~ thinking something, you are expressing your opinion in an indirect way, often because you think it seems rude.
I can’t ~ feeling that this may just be another of her schemes...
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR -ing, PHR but inf vagueness
12.
If someone or something is of ~, they make a situation easier or better.
Can I be of ~ to you?
PHRASE: V inflects