aid */*/

I UK [eɪd] / US noun
Word forms "aid":
singular aid plural aids

1)

a) [uncountable] economics money, food, or other help that an organization or government gives to a country or area where people need it, for example because of a war or flood

economic/medical aid:

The UN provided emergency economic aid to the refugees.

foreign/overseas/international aid:

She said the government should spend more on overseas aid.

b) money that a government gives to a person, group, or organization that it wishes to help

financial aid for small businesses

2) [uncountable] help with doing something

enlist/seek the aid of someone (= try to get someone's help):

The police tried to enlist the aid of the public in solving the crime.

come/go/hurry/rush to someone's aid (= come to help someone):

Several people heard her screams, but no one went to her aid.

with the aid of something:

Chromosomes can be seen with the aid of a microscope.

The pupils created the wall painting with the aid of a local artist.

3) [countable] something that makes it easier to do something

aid to:

Hypnosis can be an aid to giving up smoking.

teaching/memory/navigation aid:

Songs can be very useful as memory aids.

•

- in aid of

II UK [eɪd] / US verb
Word forms "aid":
present tense I/you/we/they aid he/she/it aids present participle aiding past tense aided past participle aided formal

1) [transitive] to make it easier for someone to do something

A list of technical terms is included here to aid the reader.

aid someone in something:

He was aided in his research by the fact that Coleridge had kept very detailed records.

2) [intransitive/transitive] to help something to happen more easily or with fewer problems

Gentle exercise aids the circulation of blood around the body.

aid in:

Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron.

3) [transitive] economics to give money, food, or other help to a country or organization that needs it

They appealed for more money to aid the homeless.

•

- aid and abet