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cure

noun (1)
\ ˈkyu̇r How to pronounce cure (audio) , ˈkyər\

Definition of cure

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1a : spiritual charge : care
b : pastoral charge of a parish
2a : recovery or relief from a disease Her cure was complete.
b : something (such as a drug or treatment) that cures a disease Quinine is a cure for malaria.
c : a course or period of treatment take the cure for alcoholism
d : spa sense 1 one of the fashionable cures
3 : a complete or permanent solution or remedy seeking a cure for unemployment
4 : a process or method of curing

cure

verb
cured; curing

Definition of cure (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to restore to health, soundness, or normality cured him of a rare blood disease
b : to bring about recovery from cure a disease
2a : to deal with in a way that eliminates or rectifies … his small size, which time would cure for him …— William Faulkner
b : to free from something objectionable or harmful trying to cure him of a bad habit
3 : to prepare or alter especially by chemical or physical processing for keeping or use fish cured with salt

intransitive verb

1a : to undergo a curing process The hay is curing in the sun.
b : set sense 11 Cement cures rapidly.
2 : to effect a cure a potion guaranteed to cure

curé

noun (2)
cu·​ré | \ kyu̇-ˈrā How to pronounce curé (audio) , ˈkyu̇r-ˌā\

Definition of curé (Entry 3 of 3)

: a parish priest
Other Words from cure Synonyms What is the origin of cure? More Example Sentences Learn More about cure

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Other Words from cure

Noun (1)

cureless \ ˈkyu̇r-​ləs How to pronounce cureless (audio) , ˈkyər-​ \ adjective

Verb

curer noun

Synonyms for cure

Synonyms: Noun (1)

antidote, corrective, curative, rectifier, remedy, therapeutic, therapy

Synonyms: Verb

heal, mend, remedy

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What is the origin of cure?

Noun (1)

In Latin the noun cura had the general sense of “the care, concern, or attention given to something or someone.” It might refer to “medical care or healing.” Christians, however, used the word chiefly in regard to “the care of souls,” since that was one of their main concerns. The word passed into French as cure and then into English with this spiritual sense. The English noun curate, meaning “one who takes care of souls, a member of the clergy,” developed from this sense. Later the medical senses of cure became more common.

Examples of cure in a Sentence

Noun (1)

 This is a problem that has no easy cure. The doctors were unable to effect a cure because the disease had spread too far.

Verb

 The infection can be cured with antibiotics. She was cured of any illusions she had about college after her first semester. My wife cured me of most of my bad habits.
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First Known Use of cure

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1655, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for cure

Noun (1)

Middle English, "attention, effort, care, responsibility, spiritual charge, medical treatment, remedy," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin cūra "care, attention, spiritual charge, treatment, cure," going back to Latin, "worry, care, attention, solicitude, treatment," probably going back to pre-Latin *kwois-ā, derivative of an Indo-European verbal base *kweis- "heed, attend to" (whence Old Irish ad·cí "(s/he) sees," Avestan cōišt "has fixed, determined")

Verb

Middle English curen "to attend to, be responsible for, restore to health," borrowed from Anglo-French curer, going back to Latin cūrāre "to watch over, attend, treat (sick persons), restore to health" (Medieval Latin, "to have spiritual charge of"), derivative of cūra "care, attention, treatment, cure" — more at cure entry 1

Noun (2)

French, from Old French, from Medieval Latin curatus — more at curate

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Dictionary Entries near cure

cur dog

curd soap

curdwort

cure

curé

cure-all

Curete

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Time Traveler for cure

The first known use of cure was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for cure

cure

noun
How to pronounce curé (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of cure

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: something (such as a drug or medical treatment) that stops a disease and makes someone healthy again
: something that ends a problem or improves a bad situation
: the act of making someone healthy again after an illness

cure

verb

English Language Learners Definition of cure (Entry 2 of 2)

: to make (someone) healthy again after an illness
: to stop (a disease) by using drugs or other medical treatments
: to provide a solution for (something)

See the full definition for cure in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cure

noun
\ ˈkyu̇r How to pronounce cure (audio) \

Kids Definition of cure

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : something (as a drug or medical treatment) that brings about recovery from a disease or illness : remedy a cure for colds
2 : recovery or relief from a disease His cure was complete.
3 : something that solves a problem or improves a bad situation

cure

verb
cured; curing

Kids Definition of cure (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to make or become healthy or sound again The doctor pronounced her cured.
2 : to bring about recovery from cure a disease
3 : to prepare by or undergo a chemical or physical process for use or storage Cure the pork in brine. The pork is curing.
4 : to provide a solution for The threat of having to repeat fifth grade cured me of bad study habits.

cure

noun
\ ˈkyu̇(ə)r How to pronounce cure (audio) \

Medical Definition of cure

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : recovery from a disease his cure was complete also : remission of signs or symptoms of a disease especially during a prolonged period of observation a clinical cure 5-year cure of cancer — compare arrest
2 : a drug, treatment, regimen, or other agency that cures a disease quinine is a cure for malaria
3 : a course or period of treatment especially : one designed to interrupt an addiction or compulsive habit or to improve general health take a cure for alcoholism an annual cure at a spa
4 : spa
5 maritime law : the medical care awarded a person in the merchant marine who is injured or taken sick in the course of duty

cure

verb
cured; curing

Medical Definition of cure (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: heal:
a : to restore to health, soundness, or normality curing her patients rapidly by new procedures
b : to bring about recovery from antibiotics cure many formerly intractable infections

intransitive verb

1 : to effect a cure careful living cures more often than it kills
2 : to take a cure (as in a sanatorium or at a spa)

Other Words from cure

curer noun

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cure

verb
cured; curing

Legal Definition of cure

transitive verb

: to deal with in a way that eliminates or corrects: as
a : to use judicial procedures to undo (damage to a litigant's case caused by procedural errors made during a trial) subsequent proceedings cured harm caused by trial court's error in impermissibly allowing…statements of government witness — National Law Journal also : to judicially correct or negate (procedural errors) cure a defect in the pleadings
b : to correct or make acceptable (a defective performance or delivery under a contract) the nonconformity would be seasonably cured— J. J. White and R. S. Summers
c : to negate (a default by a debtor in bankruptcy) by restoring the debtor and creditor to their positions before the default

intransitive verb

: to eliminate or correct a defect especially : to correct or make acceptable a defective performance or delivery under a contract the seller may seasonably notify the buyer of his intention to cure and may then within the contract time make a conforming delivery — Uniform Commercial Code

Other Words from cure

curable adjective
curability noun
cure noun

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More from Merriam-Webster on cure

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with cure

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cure

Spanish Central: Translation of cure

Nglish: Translation of cure for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of cure for Arabic Speakers

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