heal definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

heal [ heel ] (past and past participle healed, present participle heal·ing, 3rd person present singular heals)

verb

Definition:

1. transitive verb cure somebody or something from ailment: to restore a person, body part, or injury to health

2. intransitive verb be repaired naturally: to be repaired and restored naturally, e.g. by the formation of scar tissue

The broken bone seems to be healing quite nicely.

3. transitive verb put something right: to repair or rectify something that causes discord and animosity

Unless she can heal the rift within her party, she stands little chance in the election.

4. transitive and intransitive verb recover spiritually or emotionally: to get rid of a wrong, evil, or painful affliction

After losing his business, he's taken a while to heal.

[ Old English hǣlan< Germanic]

heal·a·ble adjective

Spelling Note


	heal or heel? Do not confuse the spelling of heal and heel, which sound similar. Heal is only used as a verb, meaning "restore or be restored to health" or "put right": His wounds have healed. Nothing could heal the rift between them. Heel is chiefly used as a noun, denoting the back part of a foot, shoe, or sock (as in her Achilles heel, head over heels in love, boots with high heels) or the end part of something such as a loaf of bread or a violin bow. Heel is also used as a derogatory term, as a verb meaning "repair or replace the heel of" or "strike with the heel," and in the adjective compound well-heeled.