re ‧ store W3 AC /rɪˈstɔː $ -ɔːr/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ restoration , ↑ restorer ; verb : ↑ restore ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: restorer , from Latin restaurare 'to renew, rebuild' ]
1 . FORMER SITUATION to make something return to its former state or condition
restore something to something
The government promises to restore the economy to full strength.
She was hoping that the Mediterranean climate would restore her to full health.
The National Guard was called in to restore order (=make people stop fighting and breaking the law) when riots broke out.
initiatives to restore peace in the Middle East
restore (diplomatic) relations with somebody
Vietnam restored diplomatic relations with South Korea on December 22.
restore sb’s sight/hearing (=make someone who cannot hear or who is blind, hear or see again)
2 . POSITIVE FEELING to bring back a positive feeling that a person or a group of people felt before:
measures aimed at restoring public confidence in the education system
a man whose kindness and sincerity really restored my faith in human nature (=helped me to believe that people can be good)
3 . REPAIR to repair an old building, piece of furniture, or painting etc so that it is in its original condition:
The church was carefully restored after the war.
a Victorian fireplace restored to its former glory
4 . GIVE SOMETHING BACK formal to give back to someone something that was lost or taken from them SYN return
restore something to somebody
The treaty restored Okinawa to Japan.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that someone gives something back to its former owner, rather than restores it:
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The treaty gave Okinawa back to Japan.
5 . BRING BACK A LAW to bring back a law, tax, right etc:
a campaign to restore the death penalty
6 . restore somebody to power/the throne formal make someone king, queen, or president again, after a period when they have not been in power
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THESAURUS
▪ repair to do some work on something that is damaged or not working properly, so that it is in good condition again:
The builders are coming to repair the roof.
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Have you had the washing machine repaired yet?
▪ fix especially American English to repair something:
I’m taking the car in to get it fixed.
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The chain on the bike needs fixing.
▪ mend especially British English to repair something that is damaged, torn, or not working:
I’ve found someone who’ll mend the fence.
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Can you mend this sweater for me?
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Fishermen sat mending their nets in the sunshine.
▪ service to check a vehicle or machine and repair it if necessary, especially regularly:
You should have your car serviced every six months.
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When was the last time we had the gas boiler serviced?
▪ renovate to repair an old building so that it looks in good condition again:
They bought an old house and renovated it themselves.
▪ restore to repair something old and valuable, especially a building, piece of furniture, painting etc, so that it looks the same as it did originally:
Many paintings were damaged in the fire but have now been restored.
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The hotel was restored to its original Victorian splendour in 1984.
▪ do up British English informal , fix up American English informal to repair an old building or vehicle, so that it looks in good condition again:
He does up old cars and sells them.
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A builder bought the house and fixed it up.
▪ patch something up to quickly repair something that has a hole in it, by putting a piece of material on it, especially temporarily:
They patched up the wall with bits of cement.
▪ darn to repair holes in clothes:
Are you any good at darning socks?