relief
UK /rɪˈliːf/ · US /rɪˈlif/ noun, adjective
Forms reliefs
- noun The removal of stress or discomfort. “I sighed with relief when I found out that my daughter hadn't got lost, but was waiting for me at home.”
- noun The feeling associated with the removal of stress or discomfort.
- noun Release from a post or duty, as when replaced by another.
- noun The person who takes over a shift for another. “Officer Schmidt can finally go home because his relief has arrived.”
- noun Aid or assistance offered in time of need. “Relief arrived quickly after the disaster.”
- noun (military) Military assistance to break a siege or an encirclement.
- noun (law) Court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, a redress.
- noun A lowering of a tax through special provisions; tax relief.
- noun (uncountable) A method of sculpture or other artwork in which shapes or figures protrude from a flat background.
- noun (countable) A sculpture or other artwork made with such a method.
- noun The apparent difference in elevation in the surface of a painting or drawing made noticeable by a variation in light or color.
- noun The difference of elevations on a surface. “the relief on that part of the Earth's surface”
- noun Relative distinctness, perceived difference due to contrast.
- noun (heraldry) The supposed projection of a charge from the surface of a field, indicated by shading on the sinister and lower sides.
- adjective (of a surface) Characterized by surface inequalities.
- adjective Of or used in letterpress.
Synonyms
ease alleviation liss respite comfort consolation release solace stand-in substitute backup fill-in amends recompense remuneration acquittal assyth bote compensation indemnification assuagement reliever backup man succor succour ministration rest rest period easing moderation
Etymology
From Old French relief (“assistance”), from Old French relever (“to relieve”), from Latin relevare (“to raise up, make light”). See also relieve.
From Italian rilievo, from rilevare (“to raise”), from Latin relevō (“to raise”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of relieving, or the state of being relieved; the removal, or partial removal, of any evil, or of anything oppressive or burdensome, by which some ease is obtained; succor; alleviation; comfort; ease; redress.
- noun Release from a post, or from the performance of duty, by the intervention of others, by discharge, or by relay; as, a relief of a sentry.
Etymology [OE. relef, F. relief, properly, a lifting up, a standing out. See Relieve, and cf. Basrelief, Rilievi.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “relief”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details