I. rem ‧ e ‧ dy 1 /ˈremədi, ˈremɪdi/ BrE AmE noun ( plural remedies ) [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Anglo-French ; Origin: remedie , from Latin remedium , from mederi 'to heal' ]
1 . a way of dealing with a problem or making a bad situation better SYN solution :
The problems in our schools do not have a simple remedy.
remedy for
The program is one remedy for discrimination.
2 . a medicine to cure an illness or pain that is not very serious SYN cure
cold/cough remedy
remedy for
a remedy for colds
herbal/natural remedy
a natural remedy that helps insomnia
a home remedy (=one that you make at home) for sore throats
The herb is used as a folk remedy (=a traditional medicine, rather than one a doctor gives you) for a baby’s teething pains.
3 . beyond/without remedy formal if a situation is beyond remedy, nothing can be done to make it better:
She felt as if her marital problems were beyond remedy.
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + remedy
▪ a cold/cough/flu remedy
Most cold remedies have little effect.
▪ a herbal remedy
He brought with him a bottle of his own herbal remedy for hayfever.
▪ a natural remedy
She began to look into alternative methods of treatment, such as natural remedies and hypnotherapy.
▪ a home remedy (=one that you make at home)
Home remedies for colds include honey and lemon.
▪ a traditional/folk remedy
Fish oil has been used as a folk remedy since the eighteenth century.
■ verbs
▪ take a remedy
Have you tried taking herbal remedies?
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THESAURUS
▪ cure a medicine or medical treatment that makes an illness go away:
The scientists are trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.
▪ remedy a way to treat a health problem, especially a small problem such as a cold, using plants or other natural methods:
Rinsing with salt water is a good home remedy for a sore throat.
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The store sells herbal remedies.
▪ antidote a medicine that will stop the effects of a poison or dangerous drug:
There is no known antidote to a bite from this snake.
II. remedy 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle remedied , present participle remedying , third person singular remedies ) [transitive]
to deal with a problem or improve a bad situation SYN put right :
To remedy the situation, the water must be chemically treated.