Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

3 VERB To aid someone means to help or assist them. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] …a software system to aid managers in advanced decision-making. □ [V -ed] The hunt for her killer will continue, with police aided by the army and air force. [Also V n to-inf] ● N‑UNCOUNT Aid is also a noun. □  He was forced to turn for aid to his former enemy.

4 N‑UNCOUNT If you perform a task with the aid of something, you need or use that thing to perform that task. □ [+ of ] He succeeded with the aid of a completely new method he discovered.

5 N‑COUNT An aid is an object, device, or technique that makes something easier to do. □ [+ to ] The book is an invaluable aid to teachers of literature.

6 VERB If something aids a process, it makes it easier or more likely to happen. □ [V n] The export sector will aid the economic recovery. □ [V + in ] Calcium may aid in the prevention of colon cancer.

7 → see also Band-Aid , first aid , hearing aid , legal aid

8 PHRASE 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 If you come or go to someone's aid , you try to help them when they are in danger or difficulty. COLLOCATIONS aid NOUN

1

noun + aid : development, food; government, state

adjective + aid : humanitarian, legal, medical, military; foreign, international, overseas; economic, financial

verb + aid : deliver, distribute, pledge, provide; cut, increase, suspend, withdraw; need, receive

4

verb + aid : enlist

5

noun + aid : buoyancy, hearing, mobility, teaching

adjective + aid : electronic, navigational, visual VERB

2

aid+ noun : refugees; economy, research

3

aid+ noun : digestion, identification, understanding SYNONYMS aid NOUN

1

handout:Soldiers oversee the food handouts.

relief:…famine relief.

support:…the government's proposal to cut agricultural support by only about 15%.

charity:Her husband is unemployed and the family depends on charity.

assistance:We shall offer you assistance with legal expenses up to $5,000.

4

backing:He said the president had the full backing of his government to negotiate a deal.

support:The prime minister gave his full support to the government's reforms.

assistance:Since 1976 he has been operating the shop with the assistance of volunteers.

aide /e I d/ (aides ) N‑COUNT An aide is an assistant to someone who has an important job, especially in government or in the armed forces. □ [+ to ] …a close aide to the Prime Minister.

aide-de-camp /e I d də kɒ m/ (aides-de-camp ) N‑COUNT An aide-de-camp is an officer in the armed forces who helps an officer of higher rank. □ [+ to ] …a colonel who had been aide-de-camp to the king.

aide-memoire /e I d me mwɑː ^r / (aide-memoires ) also aide-mémoire N‑COUNT An aide-memoire is something such as a list that you use to remind you of something.

AIDS ◆◆◇ /e I dz/ N‑UNCOUNT AIDS is a disease which destroys the natural system of protection that the body has against other diseases. AIDS is an abbreviation for 'acquired immune deficiency syndrome'.

ail /e I l/ (ails , ailing , ailed ) VERB If something ails a group or area of activity, it is a problem or source of trouble for that group or for people involved in that activity. □ [V n] A full-scale debate is under way on what ails the industry.

ailer|on /e I lərɒn/ (ailerons ) N‑COUNT An aileron is a section on the back edge of the wing of an aircraft that can be raised or lowered in order to control the aircraft's movement.

ail|ing /e I l I ŋ/