1. the easing of a burden or distress, such as pain, anxiety, or oppression.
2. something that alleviates pain or distress.
3. public assistance.
4. aid in time of danger, especially rescue from siege.
5. release from a post or duty, as that of sentinel.
6. one who releases another by taking over a post or duty.
7. A pleasant or amusing change; a diversion.
8. the projection of figures or forms from a flat background, as in sculpture, or the apparent projection of such shapes in a painting or drawing.
9. A work of art featuring such projection. also called relievo.
10. geology the variations in elevation of an area of the earth's surface.
11. distinction or prominence due to contrast: "the light brought the white church . . . into relief from the flat ledges” ( Willa Cather).
12. law redress awarded by a court.
13. baseball the pitching done by a relief pitcher: gave the team two innings of excellent relief.
14. A payment made by the heir of a deceased tenant to a feudal lord for the privilege of succeeding to the tenant's estate.
15. on relief receiving public assistance because of need or poverty.

1. the removal of stress or discomfort.
2. the feeling associated with the removal of stress or discomfort.
3. the person who takes over a shift for another.
4. aid or assistance offered in time of need.
5. court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, a redress.
6. tax savings.
7. A type of artwork in which shapes or figures protrude from a flat background.
8. the difference made noticeable by a variation in light or color.
9. the difference of elevations on a surface.

1. the act of relieving, or the state of being relieved; the removal, or partial removal, of any evil, or of anything oppressive or burdensome, by which some ease is obtained; succor; alleviation; comfort; ease; redress.
2. release from a post, or from the performance of duty, by the intervention of others, by discharge, or by relay.
3. that which removes or lessens evil, pain, discomfort, uneasiness, etc.; that which gives succor, aid, or comfort; also, the person who relieves from performance of duty by taking the place of another; a relay.
4. A fine or composition which the heir of a deceased tenant paid to the lord for the privilege of taking up the estate, which, on strict feudal principles, had lapsed or fallen to the lord on the death of the tenant.
5. the projection of a figure above the ground or plane on which it is formed.
6. the appearance of projection given by shading, shadow, etc., to any figure.
7. the height to which works are raised above the bottom of the ditch.
8. the elevations and surface undulations of a country.

1. the act of relieving, or the state of being relieved: the removal, in whole or in part, of any pain, oppression, or burden, so that some ease is obtained; alleviation; succor; comfort.
2. that which mitigates or removes pain, grief, want, or other evil.
3. in great britain, assistance given under the poor-laws to a pauper: as, to administer outdoor relief.
4. release from a post of duty by a substitute or substitutes, who may act either permanently or temporarily; especially, the going off duty of a sentinel or guard whose place is supplied by another soldier.
5. one who relieves another, as from a post of duty; a soldier who relieves another who is on guard; collectively, a company of soldiers who relieve others who are on guard.
6. in sculp., arch., etc., the projection (in painting, the apparent projection) of a figure or feature from the ground or plane on which it is formed.
7. A work of art or decoration in relief of any of the varieties described above.
8. in heraldry the supposed projection of a charge from the surface of the field, represented by shading with a heavier bounding-line on the sinister side and toward the base than on the dexter side and toward the chief.
9. in physical geography, the form of the surface of any part of the earth, considered in the most general way, and with special regard to differences of elevation: little used except in the name relief-map, by which is meant a geographical or geological map in which the form of the surface is expressed by elevations and depressions of the material used.
10. in fortification, the perpendicular height of the interior crest of the parapet above the bottom of the ditch.
11. prominence or distinctness given to anything by something presenting a contrast to it, or brought into close relation with or proximity to it; a contrast.
12. in hunting, a note sounded on the horn on reaching home after the chase.
13. what is picked up; fragments left; broken meat given in alms.
14. in law, that which a eourt of justice awards to a suitor as redress for the grievance of which he complains.
15. in feudal law, a fine or composition which the heir of a tenant holding by knight's service or other tenure paid to the lord at the death of the ancestor, for the privilege of succeeding to the estate, which, on strict feudal principles, had lapsed or fallen to the lord on the death of the tenant.
16.
17. help, aid, support.
18. A portion that is elevated above the general surface; a ridge, hill, or mountain.
19. in mineralogy, the character of the surface of a thin section of a mineral as shown under a microscope, depending on its refractive power relative to that of the substance in which it is embedded.

1. the act of freeing a city or town that has been besieged
2. a pause for relaxation
3. sculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the surrounding background
4. assistance in time of difficulty
5. the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance)
6. (law) redress awarded by a court
7. the condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress)
8. the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
9. someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
10. aid for the aged or indigent or handicapped
11. a change for the better