relief

re·lief (r

-l

)

1. The easing of a burden or distress, such as pain, anxiety, or oppression.

2. Something that alleviates pain or distress.

a. Public assistance.

b. Aid in time of danger, especially rescue from siege.

a. Release from a post or duty, as that of sentinel.

b. One who releases another by taking over a post or duty.

5. A pleasant or amusing change; a diversion.

a. The projection of figures or forms from a flat background, as in sculpture, or the apparent projection of such shapes in a painting or drawing.

b. A work of art featuring such projection. Also called relievo.

7. Geology The variations in elevation of an area of the earth's surface.

8. Distinction or prominence due to contrast: "The light brought the white church . . . into relief from the flat ledges" Willa Cather.

9. Law Redress awarded by a court.

10. Baseball The pitching done by a relief pitcher: gave the team two innings of excellent relief.

11. A payment made by the heir of a deceased tenant to a feudal lord for the privilege of succeeding to the tenant's estate.

Idiom:

on relief

Receiving public assistance because of need or poverty.

[Middle English, from Old French, from relever, to relieve; see relieve. Senses 6, 7, and 8, French, from Italian rilievo; see bas-relief.]

relief

Noun

1. a feeling of cheerfulness that follows the removal of anxiety, pain, or distress

2. a temporary pause in anxiety, pain, or distress

3. money, food, or clothing given to people in special need: disaster relief

4. the act of freeing a besieged town or fortress: the relief of Mafeking

5. a person who replaces another at some task or duty

6. a bus, plane, etc., that carries additional passengers when a scheduled service is full

7. Also called: (relievo) Sculpture, archit the projection of a carved design from the surface

8. any vivid effect resulting from contrast: a welcome relief

9. the difference between the highest and lowest level: study the map of relief and the rainfall map

10. on relief US & Canad (of people) in receipt of government aid because of personal need [Old French relever to relieve]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	relief - the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced; "as he heard the news he was suddenly flooded with relief" alleviation, assuagement comfort - a feeling of freedom from worry or disappointment
	2.	relief - the condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress); "he enjoyed his relief from responsibility"; "getting it off his conscience gave him some ease" ease comfort, comfortableness - a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain; "he is a man who enjoys his comfort"; "she longed for the comfortableness of her armchair" reprieve, respite - a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
	3.	relief - (law) redress awarded by a court; "was the relief supposed to be protection from future harm or compensation for past injury?" law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" amends, damages, indemnification, redress, restitution, indemnity - a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
	4.	relief - someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult); "the star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes"; "we need extra employees for summer fill-ins" backup man, fill-in, reliever, stand-in, backup, substitute compeer, equal, peer, match - a person who is of equal standing with another in a group locum, locum tenens - someone (physician or clergyman) who substitutes temporarily for another member of the same profession stunt man, stunt woman, double - a stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts; "his first job in Hollywood was as a double for Clark Gable" alternate, surrogate, replacement - someone who takes the place of another person
	5.	relief - assistance in time of difficulty; "the contributions provided some relief for the victims" ministration, succor, succour assist, assistance, help, aid - the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "he gave me an assist with the housework"; "could not walk without assistance"; "rescue party went to their aid"; "offered his help in unloading" consolation, solace, comfort - the act of consoling; giving relief in affliction; "his presence was a consolation to her" mercy - alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed; "distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy"
	6.	relief - a pause for relaxation; "people actually accomplish more when they take time for short rests" rest period, rest, respite pause, suspension, intermission, interruption, break - a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something breather, breathing place, breathing space, breathing spell, breathing time, breath - a short respite
	7.	relief - a change for the better easing, moderation alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago" disembarrassment - something that extricates you from embarrassment breath of fresh air - a welcome relief; "the new management was like a breath of fresh air"
	8.	relief - aid for the aged or indigent or handicapped; "he has been on relief for many years" public assistance, social welfare, welfare - governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need; "she lives on welfare"
	9.	relief - the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance); "he asked the nurse for relief from the constant pain" alleviation, easement, easing reduction, step-down, diminution, decrease - the act of decreasing or reducing something spasmolysis - the relaxation or relief of muscle spasms detente - the easing of tensions or strained relations (especially between nations) palliation - easing the severity of a pain or a disease without removing the cause liberalisation, liberalization, relaxation - the act of making less strict decompressing, decompression - relieving pressure (especially bringing a compressed person gradually back to atmospheric pressure)
	10.	relief - sculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the surrounding background relievo, rilievo, sculptural relief, embossment alto relievo, alto rilievo, high relief - a sculptural relief in which forms extend out from the background to at least half their depth bas relief, basso relievo, basso rilievo, low relief - a sculptural relief in which forms extend only slightly from the background; no figures are undercut half-relief, mezzo-relievo, mezzo-rilievo - a sculptural relief between low relief and high relief sculpture - a three-dimensional work of plastic art
	11.	relief - the act of freeing a city or town that has been besieged; "he asked for troops for the relief of Atlanta" freeing, liberation, release - the act of liberating someone or something

relief

noun 1. ease, release, comfort, cure, remedy, solace, balm, deliverance, mitigation, abatement, alleviation, easement, palliation, assuagement

noun 2. rest, respite, let-up, relaxation, break, diversion, refreshment (informal) remission, breather (informal)

noun 3. aid, help, support, assistance, sustenance, succour

Inequalities of evaluation and the configuration of land features on the surface of the Earth which may be represented on maps or charts by contours, hypsometric tints, shading, or spot elevations.

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