relief
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Related to relief: relieve
re·lief
(rĭ-lēf′)n.
Idiom: 1.
a. The easing of a pain, distress, or anxiety: The drug provides quick relief from asthma. The news of their safe arrival came as a great relief.
b. Something that alleviates pain, distress, or anxiety: It was a relief to see that everyone had arrived safely.
2.
a. Aid in time of danger: disaster relief.
b. Rescue from a siege: troops sent for the relief of the fort.
c. Public assistance: people eligible for relief.
3.
a. Release from a post or duty, such as that of sentinel.
b. One who takes over a post or duty for another.
4. Something that makes a pleasant or amusing change from something tedious or unpleasant: The music was a great relief after all those phone calls.
5.
a. The projection of figures or forms from a flat background, as in sculpture, or the apparent projection of such shapes in a painting or drawing.
b. A work of art featuring such projection. Also called relievo.
6. Geology The variations in elevation of an area of the earth's surface.
7. Distinction or prominence due to contrast: "The light brought the white church ... into relief from the flat ledges" (Willa Cather).
8. Law The objective sought by a lawsuit or legal action, such as an award of monetary damages or an order requiring the other party to take a particular action.
9. Baseball The pitching done by a relief pitcher: gave the team two innings of excellent relief.
10. A payment made by the heir of a deceased tenant to a feudal lord for the privilege of succeeding to the tenant's estate.
on relief
Receiving public assistance because of need or poverty.
[Middle English, from Old French, from relever, to relieve; see relieve. Senses 5, 6, and 7, French, from Italian rilievo; see bas-relief.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
relief
(rɪˈliːf)n
1. a feeling of cheerfulness or optimism that follows the removal of anxiety, pain, or distress: I breathed a sigh of relief.
2. deliverance from or alleviation of anxiety, pain, distress, etc
3. (Social Welfare)
a. help or assistance, as to the poor, needy, or distressed
b. (as modifier): relief work.
4. short for tax relief
5. something that affords a diversion from monotony
6. a person who replaces or relieves another at some task or duty
7. a bus, shuttle plane, etc, that carries additional passengers when a scheduled service is full
8. (Human Geography) a road (relief road) carrying traffic round an urban area; bypass
9. (Military)
a. the act of freeing a beleaguered town, fortress, etc: the relief of Mafeking.
b. (as modifier): a relief column.
10. (Art Terms) sculpture architect
a. the projection of forms or figures from a flat ground, so that they are partly or wholly free of it
b. a piece of work of this kind
11. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) a printing process, such as engraving, letterpress, etc, that employs raised surfaces from which ink is transferred to the paper
12. any vivid effect resulting from contrast: comic relief.
13. (Physical Geography) variation in altitude in an area; difference between highest and lowest level: a region of low relief.
14. (Mechanical Engineering) mechanical engineering the removal of the surface material of a bearing area to allow the access of lubricating fluid
15. (Law) law redress of a grievance or hardship: to seek relief through the courts.
16. (Historical Terms) European history a succession of payments made by an heir to a fief to his lord: the size of the relief was determined by the lord within bounds set by custom
17. (Social Welfare) on relief US and Canadian (of a person) in receipt of government aid because of personal need
[C14: from Old French, from relever to raise up; see relieve]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
re•lief1
(rɪˈlif)n.
1. alleviation of or deliverance from pain, distress, anxiety, oppression, etc.
2. a feeling of comfort or ease caused by such alleviation or deliverance.
3. money, food, or other help given to those in poverty or need.
4. something affording a pleasing change, as from monotony.
5. release from a post of duty, as by the arrival of a replacement.
6. the person or persons acting as replacement.
7. the rescue of a besieged town, fort, etc., from an attacking force.
8. the freeing of a closed space, as a tank or boiler, from more than a desirable amount of pressure or vacuum.
9. a sum of money paid by the heir of a feudal tenant to the lord for the privilege of succeeding to the estate.
Idioms: on relief, receiving financial assistance from a government agency.
[1300–50; Middle English relef < Old French relief, derivative of relever to raise; see relieve]
re•lief2
(rɪˈlif)n.
1. prominence, distinctness, or vividness due to contrast.
2. the projection of a figure or part from the ground or plane on which it is formed, as in sculpture or similar work.
3. a piece or work in such projection.
4. an apparent projection of parts in a painting, drawing, etc., giving the appearance of the third dimension.
5. the differences in elevation and slope between the higher and lower parts of the land surface of a given area.
6. a printing process, as letterpress, in which ink is transferred to paper from raised printing surfaces.
[1600–10; < French relief and Italian rilievo; see relief1]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also related terms for leftovers.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
relief
Inequalities of evaluation and the configuration of land features on the surface of the Earth which may be represented on maps or charts by contours, hypsometric tints, shading, or spot elevations.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
relieve
– relief1. 'relieve'
Relieve /rɪ'liːv/ is a verb. If something relieves an unpleasant feeling, it makes it less unpleasant.
Anxiety may be relieved by talking to a friend.
The passengers in the plane swallow to relieve the pressure on their eardrums.
If someone or something relieves you of an unpleasant feeling or difficulty, you no longer have it.
The news relieved him of some of his embarrassment.
Relieve is often used in the passive structure be relieved. If you are relieved, you feel happy because something unpleasant has stopped or has not happened.
I was relieved when Hannah finally arrived.
Be relieved is often followed by a to-infinitive.
He was relieved to find he'd suffered no more than a few scratches.
2. 'relief'
Relief /rɪ'liːf/ is a noun. If you feel relief, you feel glad because something unpleasant has stopped or has not happened.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
To my relief, he found the suggestion acceptable.
Relief is also money, food, or clothing that is provided for people who are very poor or hungry.
We are providing relief to vulnerable refugees, especially those who are sick.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
relief
1. (1) The projection of an image from its background. (2) (painting and drawing) The apparent projection of parts conveying the illusion of three dimensions. (3) (printing) Any process in which ink impressions are produced from the high areas of prepared printing blocks.
2. Sculpture that is not free-standing from its background; various degrees, from bas-relief (low relief) to alto-relievo (high relief). Compare intaglio
3. Public assistance.
4. Differences in height for any area of the Earth’s surface.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  relief - the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced; "as he heard the news he was suddenly flooded with relief"comfort - a feeling of freedom from worry or disappointment |
| 2. | relief - the condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress); "he enjoyed his relief from responsibility"; "getting it off his conscience gave him some ease" comfort, comfortableness - a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain; "he is a man who enjoys his comfort"; "she longed for the comfortableness of her armchair" | |
| 3. | relief - (law) redress awarded by a court; "was the relief supposed to be protection from future harm or compensation for past injury?" law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" amends, damages, indemnification, redress, restitution, indemnity - a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury | |
| 4. |  relief - someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult); "the star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes"; "we need extra employees for summer fill-ins"locum, locum tenens - someone (physician or clergyman) who substitutes temporarily for another member of the same profession stunt man, stunt woman, double - a stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts; "his first job in Hollywood was as a double for Clark Gable" | |
| 5. |  relief - assistance in time of difficulty; "the contributions provided some relief for the victims"assist, assistance, help, aid - the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "he gave me an assist with the housework"; "could not walk without assistance"; "rescue party went to their aid"; "offered his help in unloading" consolation, solace, comfort - the act of consoling; giving relief in affliction; "his presence was a consolation to her" mercy - alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed; "distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy" | |
| 6. |  relief - a pause for relaxation; "people actually accomplish more when they take time for short rests"pause, suspension, intermission, interruption, break - a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something breather, breathing place, breathing space, breathing spell, breathing time, breath - a short respite | |
| 7. | relief - a change for the better alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago" disembarrassment - something that extricates you from embarrassment breath of fresh air - a welcome relief; "the new management was like a breath of fresh air" | |
| 8. | relief - aid for the aged or indigent or handicapped; "he has been on relief for many years" public assistance, social welfare, welfare - governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need; "she lives on welfare" | |
| 9. |  relief - the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance); "he asked the nurse for relief from the constant pain"spasmolysis - the relaxation or relief of muscle spasms detente - the easing of tensions or strained relations (especially between nations) palliation - easing the severity of a pain or a disease without removing the cause decompressing, decompression - relieving pressure (especially bringing a compressed person gradually back to atmospheric pressure) | |
| 10. |  relief - sculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the surrounding backgroundalto relievo, alto rilievo, high relief - a sculptural relief in which forms extend out from the background to at least half their depth bas relief, basso relievo, basso rilievo, low relief - a sculptural relief in which forms extend only slightly from the background; no figures are undercut sculpture - a three-dimensional work of plastic art | |
| 11. | relief - the act of freeing a city or town that has been besieged; "he asked for troops for the relief of Atlanta" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
relief
noun
1. ease, release, comfort, cure, remedy, solace, balm, deliverance, mitigation, abatement, alleviation, easement, palliation, assuagement The news will come as a great relief.
2. rest, respite, let-up, relaxation, break, diversion, refreshment (informal), remission, breather (informal) a self-help programme which can give lasting relief
3. aid, help, support, assistance, sustenance, succour famine relief
4. replacement, cover, supply, reserve, substitute, stand-in, standby, locum No relief drivers were available.
Quotations
"For this relief much thanks" [William Shakespeare Hamlet]
"For this relief much thanks" [William Shakespeare Hamlet]
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
relief
noun1. The act or an instance of helping:
2. Freedom, especially from pain:
3. Assistance, especially money, food, and other necessities, given to the needy or dispossessed:
4. A person or persons taking over the duties of another:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
إسْعاف، راحَهإغاثَه، نَجْدَهبَدَلتَحْريرراحَة
úlevaosvobozenípomocreliéfsměna
lettelsenødhjælpafløsningbefrielse
helpotus
olakšanje
felszabadításmegkönnyebbülésreliefsegélyezésváltás
afleysingamaîurfrelsunléttir, linunneyîar-/fjárhagshjálpupphleypt mynd
安心
안도
išvadavimas iš apsiaustiesišvaduoti iš apsiaustiesjaučiantis palengvėjimąpalengvėjimaspamainininkas
aplenkuma pārraušanaatbrīvošanaatvieglojumsmaiņapabalsts
relief
na pomocreliéf
olajšanjepomoč
lättnad
การผ่อนคลาย
sự khuây khỏa
relief
[rɪˈliːf]A. N
1. (from pain, anxiety) → alivio m
that's a relief! → ¡qué alivio!
the news came as a great relief to her parents → la noticia fue un gran alivio para sus padres
there was a sense of relief that the war was finally over → todos sintieron un gran alivio cuando se supo que la guerra había terminado por fin
the relief of nasal congestion → el alivio de la congestión nasal
to bring or give or provide relief from sth → aliviar algo
drugs provide relief from the pain → las drogas alivian el dolor
to heave or breathe a sigh of relief → dar un suspiro de alivio
to our (great) relief, she accepted → para (gran) alivio nuestro, aceptó
she almost wept with or in relief → casi lloró del alivio que sintió
that's a relief! → ¡qué alivio!
the news came as a great relief to her parents → la noticia fue un gran alivio para sus padres
there was a sense of relief that the war was finally over → todos sintieron un gran alivio cuando se supo que la guerra había terminado por fin
the relief of nasal congestion → el alivio de la congestión nasal
to bring or give or provide relief from sth → aliviar algo
drugs provide relief from the pain → las drogas alivian el dolor
to heave or breathe a sigh of relief → dar un suspiro de alivio
to our (great) relief, she accepted → para (gran) alivio nuestro, aceptó
she almost wept with or in relief → casi lloró del alivio que sintió
2. (from monotony) it's a relief to get out of the office once in a while → es un respiro salir de la oficina de vez en cuando
by way of light relief → a modo de diversión
see also comic
by way of light relief → a modo de diversión
see also comic
3. (= aid) → auxilio m, ayuda f
disaster relief auxilio a las víctimas de una catástrofe
relief efforts have been hampered by the rains → la lluvia ha dificultado las operaciones de auxilio
see also famine
disaster relief auxilio a las víctimas de una catástrofe
relief efforts have been hampered by the rains → la lluvia ha dificultado las operaciones de auxilio
see also famine
4. (= state welfare) to be on or get relief (US) → recibir prestaciones de la seguridad social
poor relief (Brit) (Hist) → socorro m, beneficencia f
poor relief (Brit) (Hist) → socorro m, beneficencia f
5. (Mil) [of town] → liberación f
6. (Art, Geog) → relieve m
in relief → en relieve
in high/low relief → en alto/bajo relieve
to stand out in (bold or sharp or stark) relief against sth (lit, fig) → contrastar dramáticamente con algo
to throw or bring sth into (sharp) relief (fig) → poner algo de relieve, hacer resaltar algo
see also bas-relief
in relief → en relieve
in high/low relief → en alto/bajo relieve
to stand out in (bold or sharp or stark) relief against sth (lit, fig) → contrastar dramáticamente con algo
to throw or bring sth into (sharp) relief (fig) → poner algo de relieve, hacer resaltar algo
see also bas-relief
9. (Jur) → desagravio m
B. CPD [train, bus] → de reemplazo; [typist, secretary] → suplente; [work, worker, agency, organization, convoy] → de ayuda, de auxilio
relief driver N → conductor(a) m/f de relevo
relief fund N → fondo m de auxilio (a los damnificados)
relief map N → mapa m físico or de relieve; (3-D) → mapa m en relieve
relief road N → carretera f de descongestión
relief supplies NPL → provisiones fpl de auxilio
relief troops NPL → tropas fpl de relevo
relief driver N → conductor(a) m/f de relevo
relief fund N → fondo m de auxilio (a los damnificados)
relief map N → mapa m físico or de relieve; (3-D) → mapa m en relieve
relief road N → carretera f de descongestión
relief supplies NPL → provisiones fpl de auxilio
relief troops NPL → tropas fpl de relevo
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
relief
[rɪˈliːf] n
(from worry, uncertainty, distress) → soulagement m
That's a relief! → Quel soulagement!
It's a great relief to be back → C'est un grand soulagement que d'être de retour.
to sb's relief
To my relief, he said yes → À mon soulagement, il a dit oui.
to breathe a sigh of relief → pousser un soupir de soulagement
That's a relief! → Quel soulagement!
It's a great relief to be back → C'est un grand soulagement que d'être de retour.
to sb's relief
To my relief, he said yes → À mon soulagement, il a dit oui.
to breathe a sigh of relief → pousser un soupir de soulagement
(from pain, suffering) → soulagement m
relief from sth → soulagement de qch
lasting relief from the symptoms of hay fever → un soulagement durable des symptômes du rhume des foins pain relief
relief from sth → soulagement de qch
lasting relief from the symptoms of hay fever → un soulagement durable des symptômes du rhume des foins pain relief
(= help, supplies) → secours mpl
emergency relief → secours d'urgence
humanitarian relief → secours humanitaires
famine relief → aide aux victimes de la famine
disaster relief → aide aux victimes de catastrophes
emergency relief → secours d'urgence
humanitarian relief → secours humanitaires
famine relief → aide aux victimes de la famine
disaster relief → aide aux victimes de catastrophes
(MILITARY) [guard] → relève f
(= raised pattern) in relief → en relief
(GEOGRAPHY) → relief m relief map
modif [convoy, truck, plane] → humanitaire; [effort, operation] → humanitaire relief agency, relief fund, relief organization, relief work, relief workerrelief agency n → organisation f humanitairerelief fund n → caisse f de secoursrelief map n → carte f en reliefrelief organization n → organisation f humanitairerelief road n (British) → route f de délestagerelief work n → travail m humanitairerelief worker n → travailleur/euse m/f humanitaire
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
relief
n
(from anxiety, pain) → Erleichterung f; to bring somebody relief (drug) → jdm Erleichterung verschaffen; (news) → jdn erleichtern; that brought him some relief from his headache → das hat seine Kopfschmerzen etwas gelindert; that’s a relief! → mir fällt ein Stein vom Herzen; it was a relief to find it → ich/er etc war erleichtert, als ich/er etc es fand; it was a relief to get out of the office → es war eine Wohltat, aus dem Büro wegzukommen
(from monotony, boredom) → Abwechslung f; to provide a little light/comic relief → für eine kleine Abwechslung/für etwas Humor sorgen
(= assistance) → Hilfe f; to come to somebody’s relief → jdm zu Hilfe kommen; relief was available in the form of blankets and cups of tea → für Decken und heißen Tee war gesorgt; to send relief in the form of food to somebody → jdm mit Nahrungsmitteln zu Hilfe kommen; relief of the poor → Armenfürsorge f; to provide relief for the poor → für die Armen sorgen; to be on relief (US) → Fürsorge bekommen, von der Fürsorge leben
(Art, Geog) → Relief nt; (Typ) → Relief nt, → Hochdruck m; high/low relief → Hoch-/Flachrelief nt; in relief → erhaben; to stand out in relief (lit) → sich (deutlich) abheben; (fig) → gegensätzlich sein; to throw something into relief (lit) → etw (deutlich) hervortreten lassen; (fig) → etw hervorheben
(Jur) → Rechtshilfe f → (of bei)
attr
relief
:relief agency
n → Rettungsorganisation f
relief fund
n → Hilfsfonds m
relief map
n → Reliefkarte f
relief road
n → Entlastungsstraße f
relief supplies
pl → Hilfsgüter pl
relief troops
pl → Entsatztruppen pl
relief valve
n → Ausgleichsventil nt
relief workers
pl → Rettungshelfer pl; (in disaster) → Katastrophenhelfer pl
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
relief
[rɪˈliːf]1. n
a. (from pain, anxiety) relief (from) → sollievo (a)
by way of light relief → come diversivo
that's a relief! → che sollievo!
by way of light relief → come diversivo
that's a relief! → che sollievo!
b. (Mil) (of besieged town) → liberazione f; (help, supplies) → soccorsi mpl
c. (also tax relief) → sgravio fiscale
e. (of guard) → cambio
2. adj (bus) → supplementare; (driver) → che da il cambio a un collega; (work, organization, troops) → di soccorso
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
relief
(rəˈliːf) noun1. a lessening or stopping of pain, worry, boredom etc. When one has a headache, an aspirin brings relief; He gave a sigh of relief; It was a great relief to find nothing had been stolen.
2. help (eg food) given to people in need of it. famine relief; (also adjective) A relief fund has been set up to send supplies to the refugees.
3. a person who takes over some job or task from another person, usually after a given period of time. The bus-driver was waiting for his relief; (also adjective) a relief driver.
4. the act of freeing a town etc from siege. the relief of Mafeking.
5. a way of carving etc in which the design is raised above the level of its background. a carving in relief.
reˈlieve (-v) verb1. to lessen or stop (pain, worry etc). The doctor gave him some drugs to relieve the pain; to relieve the hardship of the refugees.
2. to take over a job or task from. You guard the door first, and I'll relieve you in two hours.
3. to dismiss (a person) from his job or position. He was relieved of his post/duties.
4. to take (something heavy, difficult etc) from someone. May I relieve you of that heavy case?; The new gardener relieved the old man of the burden of cutting the grass.
5. to come to the help of (a town etc which is under siege or attack).
reˈlieved adjective no longer anxious or worried. I was relieved to hear you had arrived safely.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
relief
→ راحَة úleva lettelse Erleichterung ανακούφιση alivio helpotus soulagement olakšanje sollievo 安心 안도 opluchting lettelse ulga alívio облегчение lättnad การผ่อนคลาย iç rahatlığı sự khuây khỏa 减轻Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
re·lief
n. alivio, mejoría; ayuda, auxilio;
what a ___ ! → ¡ay, qué ___ !;
v.
to be on ___ → recibir asistencia social.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
relief
n alivio; (aid) ayuda, auxilio, socorroEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.