relief Definition

relief
noun

1. The lessening or removal of pain, worry, oppression or distress.

Thesaurus: alleviation, release, mitigation, release, remission, relaxation.
2. The feeling of calmness, relaxation, happiness, etc which follows the lessening or removal of pain, worry, etc.

Thesaurus: respite, solace, break, a load off one's mind, release, relaxation, ease.
3. Anything which lessens pain, worry, boredom or monotony.
4. Help, often in the form of money, food, clothing and medicine, given to people in need.

Thesaurus: aid, help, assistance, support.
5. Someone who takes over a job or task from another person, usually after a given period of time.
6. A bus, train, etc which supplements public transport at particularly busy times.
7. The freeing of a besieged or endangered town, fortress or military post.
8. art.
A method of sculpture in which figures project from a flat surface. See high relief, bas-relief.
9. A clear, sharp outline caused by contrast.
10. The variations in height above sea level of an area of land.

Etymology: 14c: French, from Latin relevare to reduce the load.