Definition of relief
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a payment made by a male feudal tenant to his lord on succeeding to an inherited estate
2a
: removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing
b
: welfare sense 2a
c
: military assistance to an endangered post or force
d
: means of breaking or avoiding monotony or boredom : diversion
3
: release from a post or from the performance of duty
4
: one that takes the place of another on duty
5
: legal remedy or redress
6
[French, from Middle French, from Italian rilievo relievo]
a
: a mode of sculpture in which forms and figures are distinguished from a surrounding plane surface
b
: sculpture or a sculptural form executed in this mode
c
: projecting detail, ornament, or figures
7a
: sharpness of outline due to contrast
a roof in bold relief against the sky
b
: the state of being distinguished by contrast
throws the two opinions into bold relief
8
: the elevations or inequalities of a land surface
9
: the pitching done by a relief pitcher
two innings of hitless relief
relief
adjectiveDefinition of relief (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: providing relief
2
: characterized by surface inequalities
3
: of or used in letterpress
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for relief
The first known use of relief was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century