aid
♦♦♦ aid /'eɪd/ (aids aiding aided)
1 [N-UNCOUNT] oft supp N, N to n
Aid is money, equipment, or services that are provided for people, countries, or organizations who need them but cannot provide them for themselves.
...regular flights carrying humanitarian aid to Cambodia...
They have already pledged billions of dollars in aid.
...food aid convoys.
2 [VERB] V n
To aid a country, organization, or person means to provide them with money, equipment, or services that they need.
...US efforts to aid Kurdish refugees.
● -aided [COMB in ADJ]
...grant-aided factories.
...state-aided schools.
3 [VERB] V n, V-ed, also V n to-inf
To aid someone means to help or assist them. (WRITTEN)
...a software system to aid managers in advanced decision-making...
The hunt for her killer will continue, with police aided by the army and air force.
= help, assist
[N-UNCOUNT]
Aid is also a noun.
He was forced to turn for aid to his former enemy.
= assistance
4 [N-UNCOUNT] usu with/without the N of n
If you perform a task with the aid of something, you need or use that thing to perform that task.
He succeeded with the aid of a completely new method he discovered...
= help
5 [N-COUNT] oft N to n
An aid is an object, device, or technique that makes something easier to do.
The book is an invaluable aid to teachers of literature...
6 [VERB] V n, V in n/-ing
If something aids a process, it makes it easier or more likely to happen.
The export sector will aid the economic recovery...
Calcium may aid in the prevention of colon cancer.
7
see also Band-Aid, first aid, legal aid, legal aid
8 [PHRASE] PHR n
An activity or event in aid of a particular cause or charity is intended to raise money for that cause or charity. (mainly BRIT)
...a charity performance in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you come or go to someone's aid, you try to help them when they are in danger or difficulty.first aid
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
First aid is simple medical treatment given as soon as possible to a person who is injured or who suddenly becomes ill.
There are many emergencies which need prompt first aid treatment.
...a first aid kit.hear|ing aid (hearing aids)
[N-COUNT]
A hearing aid is a device which people with hearing difficulties wear in their ear to enable them to hear better.le|gal aid
[N-UNCOUNT]
Legal aid is money given by the government or another organization to people who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer.sex aid (sex aids)
[N-COUNT]
A sex aid is an object or piece of equipment that is designed to make sex easier or more enjoyable.vis|ual aid (visual aids)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Visual aids are things that you can look at, such as a film, model, map, or slides, to help you understand something or to remember information.
1 [N-UNCOUNT] oft supp N, N to n
Aid is money, equipment, or services that are provided for people, countries, or organizations who need them but cannot provide them for themselves.
...regular flights carrying humanitarian aid to Cambodia...
They have already pledged billions of dollars in aid.
...food aid convoys.
2 [VERB] V n
To aid a country, organization, or person means to provide them with money, equipment, or services that they need.
...US efforts to aid Kurdish refugees.
● -aided [COMB in ADJ]
...grant-aided factories.
...state-aided schools.
3 [VERB] V n, V-ed, also V n to-inf
To aid someone means to help or assist them. (WRITTEN)
...a software system to aid managers in advanced decision-making...
The hunt for her killer will continue, with police aided by the army and air force.
= help, assist
[N-UNCOUNT]
Aid is also a noun.
He was forced to turn for aid to his former enemy.
= assistance
4 [N-UNCOUNT] usu with/without the N of n
If you perform a task with the aid of something, you need or use that thing to perform that task.
He succeeded with the aid of a completely new method he discovered...
= help
5 [N-COUNT] oft N to n
An aid is an object, device, or technique that makes something easier to do.
The book is an invaluable aid to teachers of literature...
6 [VERB] V n, V in n/-ing
If something aids a process, it makes it easier or more likely to happen.
The export sector will aid the economic recovery...
Calcium may aid in the prevention of colon cancer.
7
see also Band-Aid, first aid, legal aid, legal aid
8 [PHRASE] PHR n
An activity or event in aid of a particular cause or charity is intended to raise money for that cause or charity. (mainly BRIT)
...a charity performance in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you come or go to someone's aid, you try to help them when they are in danger or difficulty.first aid
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
First aid is simple medical treatment given as soon as possible to a person who is injured or who suddenly becomes ill.
There are many emergencies which need prompt first aid treatment.
...a first aid kit.hear|ing aid (hearing aids)
[N-COUNT]
A hearing aid is a device which people with hearing difficulties wear in their ear to enable them to hear better.le|gal aid
[N-UNCOUNT]
Legal aid is money given by the government or another organization to people who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer.sex aid (sex aids)
[N-COUNT]
A sex aid is an object or piece of equipment that is designed to make sex easier or more enjoyable.vis|ual aid (visual aids)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Visual aids are things that you can look at, such as a film, model, map, or slides, to help you understand something or to remember information.