relief

[ ri-leef ]

/ rɪˈlif /

noun

alleviation, ease, or deliverance through the removal of pain, distress, oppression, etc.

a means or thing that relieves pain, distress, anxiety, etc.

money, food, or other help given to those in poverty or need.

something affording a pleasing change, as from monotony.

release from a post of duty, as by the arrival of a substitute or replacement.

the person or persons acting as replacement.

the rescue of a besieged town, fort, etc., from an attacking force.

the freeing of a closed space, as a tank or boiler, from more than a desirable amount of pressure or vacuum.

Feudal Law. a fine or composition which the heir of a feudal tenant paid to the lord for the privilege of succeeding to the estate.

Literature.

a distinct or abrupt change in mood, scene, action, etc., resulting in a reduction of intensity, as in a play or novel.
comic relief.

Idioms for relief

on relief, receiving financial assistance from a municipal, state, or federal government because of poverty or need.

Origin of relief

1300–50; Middle English relef < Old French relief, derivative of relever to raise; see relieve

SYNONYMS FOR relief

1 mitigation, assuagement, comfort.

3 succor, aid, redress, remedy.

ANTONYMS FOR relief

1 intensification.

OTHER WORDS FROM relief

re·lief·less, adjective

Words nearby relief

reliance, reliant, relic, relic area, relict, relief, relief map, relief pitcher, relief valve, reliefer, relier

British Dictionary definitions for on relief

relief

/ (rɪˈliːf) /

noun

a feeling of cheerfulness or optimism that follows the removal of anxiety, pain, or distress I breathed a sigh of relief

deliverance from or alleviation of anxiety, pain, distress, etc

help or assistance, as to the poor, needy, or distressed
(as modifier)relief work

short for tax relief

something that affords a diversion from monotony

a person who replaces or relieves another at some task or duty

a bus, shuttle plane, etc, that carries additional passengers when a scheduled service is full

a road (relief road) carrying traffic round an urban area; bypass

the act of freeing a beleaguered town, fortress, etcthe relief of Mafeking
(as modifier)a relief column

Also called: relievo, rilievo sculpture architect

the projection of forms or figures from a flat ground, so that they are partly or wholly free of it
a piece of work of this kind

a printing process, such as engraving, letterpress, etc, that employs raised surfaces from which ink is transferred to the paper

any vivid effect resulting from contrast comic relief

variation in altitude in an area; difference between highest and lowest level a region of low relief

mechanical engineering the removal of the surface material of a bearing area to allow the access of lubricating fluid

law redress of a grievance or hardship to seek relief through the courts

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

on relief US and Canadian (of a person) in receipt of government aid because of personal need

Word Origin for relief

C14: from Old French, from relever to raise up; see relieve

Idioms and Phrases with on relief

on relief

Also, on welfare; on the dole. Receiving public financial assistance, as in Half the people in this town are on relief, or Don hated the idea of going on welfare. The first two terms originated in the United States in the 1930s, when government assistance of this kind was first instituted. On the dole, used mainly in Britain but occasionally in America, dates from the 1920s, although the use of dole for a charitable gift dates from about 1200.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

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relief

noun

Idioms for relief

Origin of relief

SYNONYMS FOR relief

ANTONYMS FOR relief

OTHER WORDS FROM relief

Words nearby relief

British Dictionary definitions for on relief

noun

Word Origin for relief

Idioms and Phrases with on relief

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

relief

noun

Idioms for relief

Origin of relief

SYNONYMS FOR relief

ANTONYMS FOR relief

OTHER WORDS FROM relief

Words nearby relief

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noun

Word Origin for relief

Idioms and Phrases with on relief

British Dictionary definitions for on relief