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| re·lieve [ ri lv ] (past and past participle re·lieved, present participle re·liev·ing, 3rd person present singular re·lieves) |
verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb stop something unpleasant: to end, lessen, or provide a temporary break from something unpleasant such as pain, hunger, tension, or boredom
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2. transitive verb human resources replace somebody: to replace somebody on a shift or at a job
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3. transitive verb human resources fire employee: to dismiss or suspend somebody from a job or position
(
formal
)
  After the collision, the skipper was relieved of command.
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4. transitive verb ease somebody's burden: to remove something such as a burden or difficulty from the person on whom it is imposed
They were relieved of responsibility for the children.
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5. re·lieve your·self vr
Same as urinate
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6. transitive verb make something prominent: to make something stand out by contrast
(
formal
)
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7. transitive verb help somebody by removing something: to take something from somebody, usually something that the person is carrying or wearing
Let me relieve you of your coat.
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8. transitive verb take away things from somebody: to take something or things away from somebody either by force of the law or by illegal means
(
informal
)
The police relieved the suspect of her weapon.
A thief relieved him of his wallet.
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9. transitive verb social welfare help somebody: to provide help to people who are temporarily unable to care for themselves
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10. transitive verb military liberate something from military siege: to liberate a besieged town, castle, fort, or strategic field position
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| [14th century. Via Old French relever< Latin relevare "raise again, help," literally "make light again" < levis "light"] |
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| re·liev·a·ble adjective |
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