relieve
/rɪˈliːv/verb
with obj.
1
- cause (pain, distress, or difficulty) to become less severe or serious缓解, 减轻, 解除（疼痛, 苦闷, 困难）：
the drug was used to promote sleep and to relieve pain.
该药用于促进睡眠和缓解疼痛。
1.1
- （一般作be relieved）cause (someone) to stop feeling distressed or anxious about something使放心, 使宽慰, 使欣慰：
he was relieved by her change of tone.
她语气的变化使他感到宽慰。
1.2
- make less tedious or monotonous by the introduction of variety or of something striking or pleasing使得到调剂, 使不单调：
the bird's body is black, relieved only by white under the tail.
鸟全身一片黑, 只有尾巴下面的一点白色打破了单一色调。
2
- release (someone) from duty by taking their place接…的班, 换…的班, 接替：
another signalman relieved him at 5.30.
5点30分另一名信号兵接了他的班。
2.1
- bring military support for (a besieged place)救援, 解围（被困之处）：
he dispatched an expedition to relieve the city.
他派出一支远征队去救援被围之城。
2.2
relieve oneself
used as a formal or euphemistic expression for urination or defecation〈正式或婉〉排泄, 方便。
3
relieve someone of
take (a burden) from someone解除某人的（负担）：he relieved her of her baggage.
他拿过了她的行李。
3.1
- free someone from (a tiresome responsibility)使某人摆脱（烦人的责任）：
she relieved me of the household chores.
她使我摆脱了繁琐的家务。
3.2
- used euphemistically to indicate that someone has been deprived of something〈婉〉免去, 解除, 革除：
he was relieved of his world title.
他被免去了世界冠军的称号。
4
- archaic make (something) stand out〈古〉使凸现; 使突出：
the twilight relieving in purple masses the foliage of the island.
暮色使岛上的绿叶丛被凸现为一团团紫色。
短语
relieve one's feelings
- use strong language or vigorous behaviour when annoyed发泄感情, 泄愤。
派生词
relievable
adjectiverelievedly
adverbreliever
noun词源
Middle English: from Old French relever, from Latin relevare, from re- (expressing intensive force) + levare 'raise' （from levis 'light'）.