re·lief 
/rɪˈli:f/ noun
plural re·liefs /rɪˈli:f/ noun 1 : a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen [noncount] ▪ I felt such a sense of relief after I finished my thesis. ▪ He expressed relief that the crisis was finally over. ▪ Much to everyone's relief, the airplane took off without any problems. ▪ She breathed a sigh of relief. [=she no longer felt tension, worry, fear, etc.] [singular] ▪ What a relief it is to be back home. 2 [noncount] : the removal or reducing of something that is painful or unpleasant
▪ I want relief from my headaches. [=I want my headaches to stop] ▪ pain relief ▪ Exercise is an excellent source of stress relief. ▪ Both candidates promised tax relief for middle-class families. 3 [noncount] a : things (such as food, money, or medicine) that are given to help people who are victims of a war, earthquake, flood, etc.
▪ disaster/famine relief ▪ Countries from around the world have been sending relief to the flood victims. ▪ Relief workers [=people whose job it is to provide aid] delivered medical supplies. ▪ We donated to the relief effort for the hurricane victims.
b chiefly US, old-fashioned : money that is given by the government to poor people : welfare
▪ My father lost his job and we had to go on relief. 4 [noncount] : a person or group that replaces another person or group that needs rest or has finished a period of work
▪ 30,000 troops will be sent abroad as relief for the deployed soldiers. — often used before another noun ▪ The relief driver took over after the midway point of the race. ▪ a relief crew 5 : something that is enjoyable and that replaces for a short time something that is boring, unpleasant, or difficult [singular] ▪ Just one day of sunshine would be a welcome relief from the rainy weather we've been having lately. [noncount] ▪ His character provides a little comic relief in what is otherwise a very serious and dramatic movie. 6 a [noncount] : a way of decorating wood, stone, metal, etc., with designs that stick out above the surface
▪ Each gold coin depicts the queen's head in relief on the front.
b [count] : a work of art with designs that stick out above the surface
▪ ancient marble reliefs — see also bas-relief 7 [noncount] : a situation in which something is more noticeable when it is compared to something else
▪ The trees stood in stark relief against the sky. ▪ Her political activism throws the apathy of others into sharp relief. [=makes the apathy of others very noticeable]
▪ I want relief from my headaches. [=I want my headaches to stop] ▪ pain relief ▪ Exercise is an excellent source of stress relief. ▪ Both candidates promised tax relief for middle-class families.
▪ disaster/famine relief ▪ Countries from around the world have been sending relief to the flood victims. ▪ Relief workers [=people whose job it is to provide aid] delivered medical supplies. ▪ We donated to the relief effort for the hurricane victims.
b chiefly US, old-fashioned : money that is given by the government to poor people : welfare
▪ My father lost his job and we had to go on relief.
▪ 30,000 troops will be sent abroad as relief for the deployed soldiers. — often used before another noun ▪ The relief driver took over after the midway point of the race. ▪ a relief crew
▪ Each gold coin depicts the queen's head in relief on the front.
b [count] : a work of art with designs that stick out above the surface
▪ ancient marble reliefs — see also bas-relief
▪ The trees stood in stark relief against the sky. ▪ Her political activism throws the apathy of others into sharp relief. [=makes the apathy of others very noticeable]
