heal

heal

verb \ˈhēl\

Definition of HEAL

transitive verb

1

a : to make sound or whole <heal a wound>

b : to restore to health

2

a : to cause (an undesirable condition) to be overcome : mend <the troubles … had not been forgotten, but they had been healed — William Power>

b : to patch up (a breach or division) <heal a breach between friends>

3

: to restore to original purity or integrity <healed of sin>

intransitive verb

: to return to a sound state

Examples of HEAL

1. You've got to give the injury time to heal.
2. After the divorce, he needed some time to heal.
3. The ointment will help heal the wound.

Origin of HEAL

Middle English helen, from Old English hǣlan; akin to Old High German heilen to heal, Old English hāl whole — more at whole

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to HEAL

Synonyms

cure, fix, mend, rehab, rehabilitate, set up

Related Words

attend (to), care (for), doctor, medicate, minister (to), nurse, physic, treat; fortify, rejuvenate, renew, resuscitate, revitalize, revive; alleviate, relieve, remedy, repair

Near Antonyms

cripple, damage, disable, harm, hurt, impair, injure, lacerate, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, wound; afflict, ail, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, lay up, sap, sicken, waste, weaken

Rhymes with HEAL

ceil, chiel, creel, deal, deil, eel, feel, heel, keel, Kiel, kneel, leal, meal, peal, peel, real, reel, seal, seel, shiel, speel, spiel, squeal, steal, steel, Steele, streel, teal, tuille, veal, weal, wheal, wheel, zeal

heal

transitive verb \ˈhē(ə)l\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of HEAL

1

: to make sound or whole especially in bodily condition

2

: to cure of disease or disorder <heal injured tissues>

intransitive verb

1

: to return to a sound state <the wound heals>

2

: to effect a cure

—heal·er \ˈhē-lər\ (audio pronunciation) noun