Dictionary

relief en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /rɪˈliːf/ (UK)
• /ɹɪˈliːf/
• rĭ-lēf′
• /rɪˈlif/ (US)

Etymology

From Old French relief (“assistance”), from Old French relever (“to relieve”), from Latin relevare (“to raise up, make light”). See also relieve.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The removal of stress or discomfort.
   • Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness,[…]. It was with a palpable relief that he heard the first warning notes of the figure. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
   • I sighed with relief when I found out that my daughter hadn't got lost, but was waiting for me at home.
2. (countable, uncountable) The feeling associated with the removal of stress or discomfort.
   • Tony's face expressed relief, and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse, but it may have been a momentary one,[…].” 1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 20, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC:
   • DfT's action was greeted with great relief in many quarters. 2020 April 8, Philip Haigh, “Out of the current crisis we could see meaningful changes”, in Rail, page 56:
3. (countable, uncountable) Release from a post or duty, as when replaced by another.
4. (countable, uncountable) The person who takes over a shift for another.
   • Officer Schmidt can finally go home because his relief has arrived.
   • At Leeds a relief crew was waiting—but without a relief locomotive; after some discussion, the new men offered to take on the A3. [...]. 1963 February, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region”, in Modern Railways, page 136:
5. (countable, uncountable) Aid or assistance offered in time of need.
   • Relief arrived quickly after the disaster.
   • On busy days, they also may be seen bowling along the Brighton main line, north of Keymer Junction, with a relief Newhaven boat express, […]. 1950 November, R. A. H. Weight, “A Railway Recorder in Southern England”, in Railway Magazine, page 772:
6. (countable, uncountable) Military assistance to break a siege or an encirclement.
7. (countable, uncountable) Court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, a redress.
8. (countable, uncountable) A lowering of a tax through special provisions; tax relief.
9. (countable, uncountable) A certain fine or composition paid by the heir of a tenant upon the death of the ancestor.
10. (countable, uncountable) Permission for a player to move their ball to a more convenient spot before taking a shot, under certain circumstances.
11. (Australia, New-Zealand, abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of relief teacher.
    alt of relief teacher
    • Do we have a relief for maths today?

Forms

Deriveds

relieve · half-relief · sigh of relief · demirelief · prayer for relief · outdoor relief · relief printing · relief tube · indoor relief · poor relief · relieflike · relief worker · pain relief · relief teacher · low relief · relief agency · breathe a sigh of relief · microrelief · corollary relief · reliefless · comic relief · judicial relief · debt relief · tax relief · strain relief · relief drinking · relief pitcher · relief valve · hydrostatic pressure relief system · reliefful · antirelief · that's a relief · hyporelief · high relief · epirelief · photorelief · ancillary relief · out-relief

Synonyms

respite · release · stand-in · remuneration · substitute · ease · fill-in · alleviation · requital · liss · mends · ease · bote · respite · restitution · acquittal · reparation · recompense · assyth · alleviation · backup · satisfaction · recompensation · quittal · alleviation · redress · relief · recompense · liss · relief · indemnification · ease · indemnity · remuneration · comfort · requite · amends · solace · compensation · liss · consolation · amends

Translations (149)

ja 安心感 (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · de Ablösung (person who takes over a shift) · ar تَخْفِيف (removal of stress or discomfort) · la solacium (removal of stress or discomfort) · cmn 救濟 /救济 (removal of stress or discomfort) · de Unterstützung (humanitarian aid or assistance) · es alivio (removal of stress or discomfort) · hu enyhítés (removal of stress or discomfort) · fi hyvitys (law: court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, redress) · gd faochadh (removal of stress or discomfort) · mi manawatau (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · ja 安心 (removal of stress or discomfort) · eo ektrankviliĝo (removal of stress or discomfort) · fi hätäapu (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · ko 제고 (removal of stress or discomfort) · nn lindring (removal of stress or discomfort) · fr allégement (removal of stress or discomfort) · cy rhyddhad (removal of stress or discomfort) · nl opluchting (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · sv skadestånd (law: court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, redress) · ja 救済 (humanitarian aid or assistance) · de Entlastung (removal of stress or discomfort) · bg помощ (humanitarian aid or assistance) · ru облегче́ние (removal of stress or discomfort) · hu segély (humanitarian aid or assistance) · ca alleujament (removal of stress or discomfort) · it sollievo (removal of stress or discomfort) · ga faoiseamh (removal of stress or discomfort) · sw faraja (humanitarian aid or assistance) · ja 交代者 (person who takes over a shift) · fi helpotus (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · ro asistență umanitară (humanitarian aid or assistance) · sw faraja (removal of stress or discomfort) · qu allinyay (removal of stress or discomfort) · ro ajutor umanitar (humanitarian aid or assistance) · bg подпомагане (humanitarian aid or assistance) · cmn 安心 (removal of stress or discomfort) · es relevación (release from a post or duty, as when replaced by another) · la aberrātiō (removal of stress or discomfort) · fr soulagement (removal of stress or discomfort) · it cambio (person who takes over a shift) · be аблягчэ́нне (removal of stress or discomfort) · ga fóirithint (humanitarian aid or assistance) · es auxilio (humanitarian aid or assistance) · cs zástup (person who takes over a shift) · uk поле́гшення (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · gl acougo (removal of stress or discomfort) · es aliviane (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · sv nödhjälp (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · el ανακούφιση (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · it aiuto (humanitarian aid or assistance) · fi apu (humanitarian aid or assistance) · pt assistência humanitária (humanitarian aid or assistance) · de Hilfe (humanitarian aid or assistance) · ckb چار (humanitarian aid or assistance) · de Erleichterung (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · ja 救済 (removal of stress or discomfort) · te ఉపశమనం (removal of stress or discomfort) · es asistencia (humanitarian aid or assistance) · es relevo (person who takes over a shift) · pl wyręka (person who takes over a shift) · nl opluchting (removal of stress or discomfort) · hu csillapítás (removal of stress or discomfort) · sv nödhjälp (humanitarian aid or assistance) · ja 救援 (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · es remuda (person who takes over a shift) · he הקלה (removal of stress or discomfort) · it sollievo (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · el ανακούφιση (removal of stress or discomfort) · ja 賠償 (law: court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, redress) · es desahogo (removal of stress or discomfort) · sv lättnad (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · mer gikeno (humanitarian aid or assistance) · mi whakamāmātanga (removal of stress or discomfort) · fr relève (release from a post or duty, as when replaced by another) · it soccorso (humanitarian aid or assistance) · be палёгка (removal of stress or discomfort) · bg облекчение (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · ro alinare (removal of stress or discomfort) · fi vapauttaja (person who takes over a shift) · it assistenza (humanitarian aid or assistance) · it sostituto (person who takes over a shift) · mi rīwhi (person who takes over a shift) · ga fuascailt (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · hu könnyítés (removal of stress or discomfort) · hu váltótárs (person who takes over a shift) · ar رَاحَة (removal of stress or discomfort) · fi korvaus (law: court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, redress) · fr soulagement (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · ja 減税 (reduction in tax) · bg смяна (person who takes over a shift) · hu váltó (person who takes over a shift) · fi verohelpotus (reduction in tax) · sv bistånd (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · pl wyręka (release from a post or duty, as when replaced by another) · fi helpotus (law: court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, redress) · hu helyettesítő (person who takes over a shift) · ja 安心 (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · ja 救援 (humanitarian aid or assistance) · fi helpotus (removal of stress or discomfort) · cs (humanitární) pomoc (humanitarian aid or assistance) · sv avlösare (person who takes over a shift) · da lettelse (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · fi apu (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · it sgravio (reduction in tax) · hu adókönnyítés (reduction in tax) · sv lättnad (removal of stress or discomfort) · ja 法的救済 (law: court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, redress) · ro ușurare (removal of stress or discomfort) · ga fóirithint (military assistance to break a siege or an encirclement) · la subsidium (humanitarian aid or assistance) · hu adóelengedés (reduction in tax) · sv bistånd (humanitarian aid or assistance) · hu segítség (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · cmn 解除 (removal of stress or discomfort) · sv skattelättnad (reduction in tax) · es ayuda humanitaria (humanitarian aid or assistance) · de Nothilfe (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · ja 救済 (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · pl ulga (removal of stress or discomfort) · gd faochadh (humanitarian aid or assistance) · gl alivio (removal of stress or discomfort) · ca consol (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · pt auxílio (humanitarian aid or assistance) · pt alívio (removal of stress or discomfort) · la relevium (composition on heir) · sv lindring (removal of stress or discomfort) · fi humanitaarinen apu (humanitarian aid or assistance) · de Erleichterung (removal of stress or discomfort) · hu felváltó (person who takes over a shift) · nb lindring (removal of stress or discomfort) · la subsidium (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · de Beistand (humanitarian aid or assistance) · fi avustus (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · de Entsatz (military assistance to break a siege or an encirclement) · fi huojennus (removal of stress or discomfort) · da lettelse (removal of stress or discomfort) · ca consol (removal of stress or discomfort) · fr relève (person who takes over a shift) · uk поле́гшення (removal of stress or discomfort) · cy gollyngdod (removal of stress or discomfort) · ko 안심 (removal of stress or discomfort) · bg облекчение (removal of stress or discomfort) · ga fóirithint (aid or assistance offered in time of need) · sv avlösning (person who takes over a shift) · hu megkönnyebbülés (feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort) · fi hätäapu (humanitarian aid or assistance) · nb lettelse (removal of stress or discomfort) · cs úleva (removal of stress or discomfort)

relief en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /rɪˈliːf/ (UK)
• /ɹɪˈliːf/
• rĭ-lēf′
• /rɪˈlif/ (US)

Etymology

From Italian rilievo, from rilevare (“to raise”), from Latin relevō (“to raise”).

Meanings

1. (of a surface) Characterized by surface inequalities.
2. Of or used in letterpress.

Forms

relief en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /rɪˈliːf/ (UK)
• /ɹɪˈliːf/
• rĭ-lēf′
• /rɪˈlif/ (US)

Etymology

From Italian rilievo, from rilevare (“to raise”), from Latin relevō (“to raise”).

Meanings

1. (uncountable) A method of sculpture or other artwork in which shapes or figures protrude from a flat background.
2. (countable) A sculpture or other artwork made with such a method.
3. (countable, uncountable) The apparent difference in elevation in the surface of a painting or drawing made noticeable by a variation in light or color.
4. (countable, uncountable) The difference of elevations on a surface.
   • The approach to Newcastle (Central) Station from the north after a heavy snowfall. The complicated track layout is thrown into clear relief by the snow [referring to dark rails poking through the snow] 1947 January and February, “A Winter's Day on the Tyneside”, in Railway Magazine, page 29, photo caption:
   • the relief on that part of the Earth's surface
5. (countable, uncountable) Relative distinctness, perceived difference due to contrast.
   • And is it that the haze of grief ⁠Hath stretch’d my former joy so great? ⁠The lowness of the present state, That sets the past in this relief? 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXIV”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 41:
6. (countable, uncountable) The supposed projection of a charge from the surface of a field, indicated by shading on the sinister and lower sides.

Forms

Deriveds

mid relief · low relief · counter-relief · relief map · high relief · sunk relief

Synonyms

texture · embossing · topography

Translations (104)

eo reliefo (type of artwork) · ro basorelief (type of artwork) · km ចម្លាក់ផុស (type of artwork) · hu kiemelkedés (difference of elevations on a surface) · it rilievo (difference of elevations on a surface) · bg изпъкналост (apparent difference in elevation) · et bareljeef (type of artwork) · fi kohokuva (type of artwork) · cs reliéf (type of artwork) · be рэлье́ф (type of artwork) · he תבליט (type of artwork) · ja 浮彫的効果 (apparent difference in elevation) · hu relief (type of artwork) · it sopraelevazione (difference of elevations on a surface) · nl reliëf (type of artwork) · it rilievo (type of artwork) · fi reliefi (type of artwork) · it bassorilievo (type of artwork) · de Relief (type of artwork) · sk reliéf (type of artwork) · hu kontraszt (apparent difference in elevation) · ko 부조 (type of artwork) · et reljeef (type of artwork) · sv relief (type of artwork) · ka რელიეფი (type of artwork) · be рэлье́ф (difference of elevations on a surface) · fr relief (type of artwork) · lv cilnis (type of artwork) · uk барельє́ф (type of artwork) · nn relieff (type of artwork) · sq reliev (type of artwork) · be барэлье́ф (type of artwork) · id relief (type of artwork) · ca relleu (apparent difference in elevation) · de Relief (difference of elevations on a surface) · ru барелье́ф (type of artwork) · ja 高低 (difference of elevations on a surface) · sl relief (type of artwork) · he תִּבְלֹטֶת (difference of elevations on a surface) · ru релье́ф (type of artwork) · sv relief (difference of elevations on a surface) · grc ἐκτύπωμα (type of artwork) · el ανάγλυφο (type of artwork) · ja 起伏 (difference of elevations on a surface) · hu dombormű (type of artwork) · sh рељеф (type of artwork) · ru релье́ф (difference of elevations on a surface) · lv reljefs (difference of elevations on a surface) · tr kabartma (type of artwork) · sh reljef (type of artwork) · hu domborzat (difference of elevations on a surface) · bg реле́ф (type of artwork) · mk релјеф (difference of elevations on a surface) · ms bentuk bumi (difference of elevations on a surface) · bg релефност (apparent difference in elevation) · mk релјеф (type of artwork) · is lágmynd (type of artwork) · pt relevo (difference of elevations on a surface) · uk рельє́ф (type of artwork) · cy cerfwedd (type of artwork) · es relieve (difference of elevations on a surface) · fr relief (apparent difference in elevation) · ar نَقْش نَافِر (type of artwork) · hy բառելյեֆ (type of artwork) · mi āhua matawhenua (difference of elevations on a surface) · nl reliëf (difference of elevations on a surface) · ro relief (type of artwork) · el ανάγλυφο (difference of elevations on a surface) · vi рhù điêu (type of artwork) · pt relevo (type of artwork) · he תבלוטת (difference of elevations on a surface) · tr rölyef (type of artwork) · sh reljef (difference of elevations on a surface) · ja 浮き彫り (type of artwork) · fr relief (difference of elevations on a surface) · ga rilíf (type of artwork) · hu domborulat (difference of elevations on a surface) · fi pinnanmuoto (difference of elevations on a surface) · ca relleu (type of artwork) · ro altorelief (type of artwork) · fi korkeusero (difference of elevations on a surface) · hy ռելյեֆ (type of artwork) · mi takoto whenua (difference of elevations on a surface) · fi reliefi (difference of elevations on a surface) · lv reljefs (type of artwork) · fi korkokuva (type of artwork) · uk рельє́ф (difference of elevations on a surface) · pl relief (type of artwork) · ca relleu (difference of elevations on a surface) · bg релеф (difference of elevations on a surface) · fi syvyysvaikutelma (apparent difference in elevation) · ro relief (difference of elevations on a surface) · ja 立体画法 (apparent difference in elevation) · cmn 浮雕 (type of artwork) · he תבליט (difference of elevations on a surface) · lt reljefas (type of artwork) · da relief (type of artwork) · cs reliéf (difference of elevations on a surface) · es relieve (type of artwork) · nb relieff (type of artwork) · hu mélység (apparent difference in elevation) · km ចម្លាក់លៀន (type of artwork) · ja リリーフ (type of artwork) · ja レリーフ (type of artwork)