n.
1 ease, easing, abatement, easement, deliverance, remedy, redress, alleviation, release, remission, assuagement, liberation, recess:
We would all welcome relief from this blistering heat. Contributions for the relief of famine in Africa would be most welcome
2 aid, help, support, assistance, succour; comfort:
How many troops can we send for the relief of the besieged garrison?
3 elevation, projection, contrast, prominence; bas-relief or basso-rilievo ('low relief'), mezzo-rilievo ('medium relief'), alto-rilievo ('high relief'):
The Greek reliefs brought to England by Lord Elgin are on display at the British Museum
4 substitute, surrogate, replacement, alternate, locum (tenens), stand-in; understudy, double:
I wish that my relief would arrive so I could go home.
noun
1 removal of anxiety/pain
ADJ.
considerable, deep, enormous, great, huge, immense, intense, overwhelming, tremendous | certain
The news of his appointment was received with a certain relief by most people.
| sheer | complete | temporary
The drugs only provided temporary relief from the pain.
| fast, immediate, instant | evident, obvious
She smiled with evident relief.
| blessed, welcome | pain
The injection gives complete pain relief.
VERB + RELIEF
bring (sb), give (sb), offer (sb), provide (sb with)
Morning brought no relief from the heat.
| come as
The news came as a welcome relief to Brian.
| seek
She sought relief in drink.
| find, get
He found relief from his fears in a world of fantasy and art.
| experience, feel
I felt enormous relief once they phoned.
| sense
She could sense his relief when she said she wouldn't be leaving.
| express
RELIEF + VERB
come
He believes that relief only comes from helping others with their suffering.
| flood
Relief flooded through me as the aeroplane landed safely.
PREP.
in ~
She smiled in relief.
| out of ~
He hugged her out of sheer relief.
| to your ~
To my great relief, she didn't notice that anything was wrong.
| with ~
He sighed with relief.
| ~ at
relief at not having been made a fool of
| ~ from
relief from hunger
| ~ to
The news was a huge relief to her.
PHRASES
a cry/a sigh/tears of relief
He breathed a sigh of relief.
| a sense/wave of relief
2 food/money/medicine given to people in need
ADJ.
humanitarian | emergency | famine, flood | foreign, international
VERB + RELIEF
give sb, provide (sb with), send (sb)
The organization provides emergency famine relief.
RELIEF + NOUN
work
She said that the fighting has halted almost all relief work in the area.
| effort, operation
There was a huge international relief effort to bring help to the stricken area.
| package, programme
Congress has agreed an $11 million relief package for victims of the hurricane.
| aid, supplies | agency, fund, organization | staff, worker | convoy, flight
3 reduction in the amount of tax, etc. you have to pay
ADJ.
debt, interest, mortgage, tax
VERB + RELIEF
get, obtain, receive
You get mortgage relief of 10% on the next £5,000.
| be entitled to, qualify for | apply for, claim, seek
RELIEF + VERB
be available
No tax relief is available in respect of this loss.
4 sth interesting that replaces sth boring
ADJ.
light | comic
VERB + RELIEF
give (sb), provide (sb with)
The scene provided some comic relief for the audience.
PREP.
for ~
The comical characters are brought into the story for a little light relief.
PHRASES
a moment of relief
5 way of decorating wood, stone, etc.
ADJ.
high
The scene has been carved in high relief.
| bas, low | carved, sculptured | alabaster, bronze, marble, plaster, stucco | classical, Greek, Roman
VERB + RELIEF
carve (sth) in
RELIEF + NOUN
carving, sculpture | panel
PREP.
in ~
a sculpture in high relief
6 making sth noticeable
ADJ.
sharp, stark
VERB + RELIEF
bring sth into, throw sth into
(often figurative) The proximity of the wealthy suburb to the squatter camp throws the plight of the squatters into even sharper relief.
| stand out in
The snow-capped mountains stood out in sharp relief against the blue sky.
Random quote: Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.: Niccolo Machiavelli
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