relief
pronunciation
How to pronounce relief in British English:
UK [rɪˈliːf]
How to pronounce relief in American English:
US [rɪˈliːf]
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- Noun:
- the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
- the condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress)
- (law) redress awarded by a court
- someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
- assistance in time of difficulty
- a pause for relaxation
- a change for the better
- aid for the aged or indigent or handicapped
- the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance)
- sculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the surrounding background
- the act of freeing a city or town that has been besieged
Word Origin
- relief (n.1)
- late 14c., "alleviation of distress, hunger, sickness, etc; state of being relieved; that which mitigates or removes" (pain, grief, evil, etc.)," from Anglo-French relif, from Old French relief "assistance," literally "a raising, that which is lifted," from stressed stem of relever (see relieve). Meaning "aid to impoverished persons" is attested from c. 1400; that of "deliverance of a besieged town" is from c. 1400. Earlier in English as "that which is left over or left behind," also "feudal payment to an overlord made by an heir upon taking possession of an estate" (both c. 1200).
- relief (n.2)
- "projection of figure or design from a flat surface," c. 1600, from French relief, from Italian rilievo, from rilevare "to raise," from Latin relevare "to raise, lighten" (see relieve).
Example
- 1. Compression limits swelling and can provide minor pain relief .
- 2. What are the risks in the immediate relief operation ?
- 3. You 'll get an instant relief of stress by laughing .
- 4. Only in one sense can ms gillard find relief .
- 5. Supportive therapy brings relief but does not eliminate depersonalization .