RELIEVE


Meaning of RELIEVE in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ri-ˈlēv ]

verb

( re·lieved ; re·liev·ing )

Etymology: Middle English releven, from Anglo-French relever to raise, relieve, from Latin relevare, from re- + levare to raise — more at lever

Date: 14th century

transitive verb

1.

a. : to free from a burden : give aid or help to

b. : to set free from an obligation, condition, or restriction

c. : to ease of a burden, wrong, or oppression by judicial or legislative interposition

2.

a. : to bring about the removal or alleviation of : mitigate

helps relieve stress

b. : rob , deprive

relieved us of our belongings

3.

a. : to release from a post, station, or duty

b. : to take the place of

will relieve the starting pitcher

4. : to remove or lessen the monotony of

a park relieve s the urban landscape

5.

a. : to set off by contrast

b. : to raise in relief

6. : to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)

intransitive verb

1. : to bring or give relief

2. : to stand out in relief

3. : to serve as a relief pitcher

• re·liev·able -ˈlē-və-bəl adjective

Synonyms:

relieve , alleviate , lighten , assuage , mitigate , allay mean to make something less grievous. relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress

the lotion alleviated the itching

lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight

good news would lighten our worries

assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms

allayed their fears

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.