re|lieve

re|lieve «rih LEEV», verb, -lieved, -liev|ing.

–v.t.

1. to make less; make easier; reduce the pain or trouble of: »

Aspirin will usually relieve a headache.

SYNONYM(S): alleviate, mitigate.

2. to set free: »

Your coming relieves me of the bother of writing a long letter. This relieved Ernest of a good deal of trouble (Samuel Butler).

3. to bring aid to; help: »

Rescue workers were sent to relieve the trapped coal miners.

4. to free (a person on duty) by taking his place: »

to relieve a guard or sentry.

5. to remove or release from a job or position: »

[He] was relieved of his post…by a revolutionary council (Wallace Sokolsky).

6. to give variety or a pleasing change to: »

The black dress was relieved by red trimming.

7. to make stand out more clearly.

8. Informal. to deprive by theft; rob: »

[She was] relieved in Las Vegas of a gold necklace and diamond ring valued at $5,300 (Time).

9. to empty the bladder or bowels of: »

The little boy…got off his bicycle to relieve himself (New Yorker).

10. Sports. to substitute for (another player, such as a pitcher in a baseball game).

–v.i.

1. to stand out more clearly; appear in relief: »

Relieving dark against their white walls were lines of troops (Harper's).

2. Sports. to substitute for another player, especially as a relief pitcher.

╂[< Old French relever < Latin relevāre to lighten < re- back + levāre raise < levis light (weight)]