Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense cures, present participle curing, past tense, past participle cured
1. verb
If doctors or medical treatments cure an illness or injury, they cause it to end or disappear.
An operation finally cured his shin injury. [VERB noun]
Her cancer can only be controlled, not cured. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: make better, correct, heal, relieve More Synonyms of cure
2. verb
If doctors or medical treatments cure a person, they make the person well again after an illness or injury.
MDT is an effective treatment and could cure all the leprosy sufferers worldwide. [VERB noun]
Almost overnight I was cured. [beVERB-ed]
Now doctors believe they have cured him of the disease. [VERB noun + of]
Synonyms: restore to health, restore, heal More Synonyms of cure
3. countable noun
A curefor an illness is a medicine or other treatment that cures the illness.
There is still no cure for a cold.
Atkinson has been told rest is the only cure for his ankle injury. [+ for]
Synonyms: remedy, treatment, medicine, healing More Synonyms of cure
4. verb
If someone or something cures a problem, they bring it to an end.
Private firms are willing to make large-scale investments to help cure Russia's economictroubles. [VERB noun]
We need to cure our environmental problems. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: rectify, improve, fix, remedy More Synonyms of cure
5. countable noun
A curefor a problem is something that will bring it to an end.
Punishment can never be an effective cure for acute social problems.
The magic cure for inflation does not exist. [+ for]
6. verb
If an action or event cures someone of a habit or an attitude, it makes them stop having it.
The experience was a detestable ordeal, and it cured him of any ambitions to directagain. [VERB noun + of]
He went to a clinic to cure his drinking and overeating. [VERB noun]
7. verb [usually passive]
When food, tobacco, or animal skin is cured, it is dried, smoked, or salted so that it will last for a long time.
Legs of pork were cured and smoked over the fire. [beVERB-ed]
...sliced cured ham. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: preserve, smoke, dry, salt More Synonyms of cure
cure in British English
(kjʊə)
verb
1. (transitive)
to get rid of (an ailment, fault, or problem); heal
2. (transitive)
to restore to health or good condition
3. (intransitive)
to bring about a cure
4. (transitive)
to preserve (meat, fish, etc) by salting, smoking, etc
5. (transitive)
a.
to treat or finish (a substance) by chemical or physical means
b.
to vulcanize (rubber)
c.
to allow (a polymer) to set often using heat or pressure
6. (transitive)
to assist the hardening of (concrete, mortar, etc) by keeping it moist
noun
7.
a return to health, esp after specific treatment
8.
any course of medical therapy, esp one proved effective in combating a disease
9.
a means of restoring health or improving a condition, situation, etc
10.
the spiritual and pastoral charge of a parish
the cure of souls
11.
a process or method of preserving meat, fish, etc, by salting, pickling, or smoking
Derived forms
cureless (ˈcureless)
adjective
curer (ˈcurer)
noun
Word origin
(n) C13: from Old French, from Latin cūra care; in ecclesiastical sense, from Medieval Latin cūra spiritual charge; (vb) C14: from Old French curer, from Latin cūrāre to attend to, heal, from cūra care
curé in British English
(ˈkjʊəreɪ)
noun
a parish priest in France
Word origin
French, from Medieval Latin cūrātus; see curate1
cure in American English
(kjʊr)
noun
1.
a healing or being healed; restoration to health or a sound condition
2.
a medicine or treatment for restoring health; remedy
3.
a system, method, or course of treating a disease, ailment, etc.
4.
spiritual charge of persons in a particular district; care of souls
5.
the work or position of a curate; curacy
6.
a process for curing meat, fish, tobacco, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: cured or ˈcuring
7.
to restore to health or a sound condition; make well; heal
8.
to get rid of or counteract (an ailment, evil, bad habit, etc.)
9.
to get rid of a harmful or undesirable condition in
(with of)
cured him of lying
10.
a.
to preserve (meat, fish, etc.), as by salting or smoking
b.
to process (tobacco, leather, etc.), as by drying or aging
11.
to encourage the proper hardening of (concrete or mortar) by regulating humidity and temperature
verb intransitive
12.
to bring about a cure
13.
to undergo curing, preserving, or processing
tobacco cures in the sun
SYNONYMY NOTE: cure, heal both imply a restoring to health or soundness, , cure specifically suggesting the elimination of disease, distress, evil, etc., and , heal, the making or becoming whole of a wound, sore, etc. or, figuratively, the mendingof a breach; , remedy stresses the use of medication or a specific corrective treatment in relieving disease,injury, distress, etc.
Derived forms
cureless (ˈcureless)
adjective
curer (ˈcurer)
noun
Word origin
OFr < L cura, care, concern, trouble < OL *coira < IE base *kois-, be concerned
curé in American English
(kjuˈreɪ; ˈkjʊrˌeɪ; French kyˈʀeɪ)
noun
in France, a parish priest
Word origin
Fr < ML curatus: see curate
cure in Chemical Engineering1
(kyʊər)
Word forms: (present) cures, (past) cured, (perfect) cured, (progressive) curing
verb
(Chemical Engineering: General)
When a polymer cures or you cure it, it sets, often with heat or pressure.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ a polymer
The most satisfactory way to cure polymers is by the application of heat, thus achieving optimum cross-linking.
The polymer filler is then partially cured by exposure to a radiant energy source.
When you cure a polymer, it sets, often with heat or pressure.
cure in Chemical Engineering2
(kyʊər)
Word forms: (present) cures, (past) cured, (perfect) cured, (progressive) curing
verb
(Chemical Engineering: General)
If you cure a substance, you treat or finish it chemically or physically.
The electron beam process is a suitable way to cure the product in this process because the electrons can penetrate the thick releasefilm in order to reach the active ingredients in the coating being irradiated.
The textile industry is ready to adopt ionizing irradiation as a technique to finishand cure fabrics.
If you cure a substance, you treat or finish it chemically or physically.
cure in Chemical Engineering3
(kyʊər)
Word forms: (present) cures, (past) cured, (perfect) cured, (progressive) curing
verb
(Chemical Engineering: General)
If you cure rubber, you harden it by treating it with sulfur at a high temperature.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ rubber
The flooring material is made of natural or synthetic rubber that has been rolledand cured.
A small piece of sheet rubber was cured by treatment with hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide.
If you cure rubber, you harden it by treating it with sulfur at a high temperature.
Examples of 'cure' in a sentence
cure
We are still years away from saying that we have found a cure for cancer.
The Sun (2014)
So it really may cure a cold.
The Sun (2013)
There was no magic cure and no one else could do it for me.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The race is on to find a vaccine and an effective cure for ebola.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This was not a unique case of lightning curing a medical condition.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Not all of these illnesses can be cured but most can be helped.
The Sun (2008)
We were told that there was no treatment and no cure.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There is no cure for this condition and it has ruined many a relationship.
The Sun (2010)
Stem cell research today means some cancers can be cured.
The Sun (2009)
She told me the way to cure a cold was to drink it under.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is no magic cure and rehab itself gives no guarantees.
The Sun (2007)
The quickest and most effective cure to bad habits can be found in getting video feedback.
Christianity Today (2000)
See more weird medical cures online.
The Sun (2009)
No one who suffers mental illness can be cured by the knowledge that the condition is widespread.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The condition cannot be cured but can be managed with medication.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
How about trying to find a cure for cancer?
The Sun (2013)
Can you cure a reading problem?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The cured meats can have the same effects as smoking, a study found.
The Sun (2007)
It wants to make money, cure the sick and save the dying.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There's no cure for this problem.
The Sun (2011)
But I also cure the meat for twice as long so the taste is so much richer.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The absence of a cure often makes MS patients bitter toward their doctors.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
He is expected to undergo a minor operation today in a bid to cure the Achilles injury that has sidelined him for more than four months.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
`This poor old French curé wasn't shot as an Uhlan in disguise but it was a close thing!
NULL DARE CALL IT TREASON
Quotations
It is part of the cure to wish to be curedSenecaPhaedra
The cure is worse than the diseasePhilip MassingerThe Bondman
In other languages
cure
British English: cure /kjʊə/ NOUN
A cure for an illness is a medicine or other treatment that cures the illness.
There is still no cure for a cold.
American English: cure
Arabic: شِفَاء
Brazilian Portuguese: cura
Chinese: 治愈
Croatian: lijek
Czech: lék
Danish: kur
Dutch: geneesmiddel
European Spanish: cura priest
Finnish: parannuskeino
French: traitement
German: Heilung
Greek: θεραπεία
Italian: cura
Japanese: 治療
Korean: 치료
Norwegian: kur
Polish: kuracja
European Portuguese: cura
Romanian: leac
Russian: лечение
Latin American Spanish: cura remedio
Swedish: botemedel
Thai: การรักษา
Turkish: tedavi
Ukrainian: ліки
Vietnamese: sự chữa bệnh
British English: cure /kjʊə/ VERB
If a doctor or a medical treatment cures someone, or cures their illness, they make the person well again.
Doctors have cured him of the disease.
American English: cure
Arabic: يُعالِجُ
Brazilian Portuguese: curar
Chinese: 治愈
Croatian: izliječiti
Czech: léčit
Danish: helbrede
Dutch: genezen
European Spanish: curar
Finnish: parantaa
French: guérir
German: heilen
Greek: θεραπεύω
Italian: curare
Japanese: 治す
Korean: (...을)치료하다
Norwegian: kurere
Polish: zaradzić
European Portuguese: curar
Romanian: a vindeca
Russian: лечить
Latin American Spanish: curar
Swedish: bota
Thai: รักษา
Turkish: tedavi etmek
Ukrainian: виліковувати
Vietnamese: chữa bệnh
Chinese translation of 'cure'
cure
(kjuəʳ)
vt
(Med)
[illness]治好 (zhìhǎo)
[patient]治愈(癒) (zhìyù)
(= solve)[problem]解决(決) (jiějué)
(= preserve)[meat, fish]熏(薰) (xūn)
[skin, hide]腌(醃) (yān)
n(c)
(Med) 疗(療)法 (liáofǎ) (种(種), zhǒng)
(= solution) 对(對)策 (duìcè)
to be cured of sth被治好了某病 (bèi zhìhǎole mǒubìng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to get rid of (an ailment or problem)
An operation finally cured his shin injury.
Synonyms
make better
correct
heal
the best way to heal a broken heart
relieve
Drugs can relieve much of the pain.
remedy
He's been remedying a hamstring injury.
mend
He must have an operation to mend torn knee ligaments.
The arm is broken, but you'll mend.
rehabilitate
a program for rehabilitating low-income housing
help
The surgery has really helped her back pain.
ease
I made her a hot water bottle to ease the pain.
2 (verb)
Definition
to restore (someone) to health
I was cured almost overnight.
Synonyms
restore to health
restore
heal
No doctor has ever healed a broken bone. They just set them.
3 (verb)
Definition
to get rid of (an ailment or problem)
We need to cure our environmental problems.
Synonyms
rectify
Only an act of Congress could rectify the situation.
improve
He improved their house.
fix
If something is broken, we fix it.
remedy
A great deal has been done to remedy the situation.
right
We've made progress in righting the wrongs of the past.
correct
You may need surgery to correct the problem.
repair
They needed to repair the damage done by the interview.
amend
The committee put forward proposals to amend the penal system.
make good
mend
There will be disciplinary action if you do not mend your ways.
redress
to redress the economic imbalance
put right
emend
4 (verb)
Definition
to preserve (leather or tobacco) by drying
Legs of pork were cured and smoked over the fire.
Synonyms
preserve
ginger preserved in syrup
smoke
The fish was being smoked.
dry
salt
pickle
Herrings can be salted, smoked and pickled.
Pickle your favourite vegetables while they're still fresh.
kipper
(noun)
Definition
a means of restoring health or improving a situation
There is still no cure for the common cold.
Synonyms
remedy
natural remedies to overcome winter infections
treatment
a new treatment for eczema
medicine
herbal medicines
healing
antidote
He noticed their sickness and prepared an antidote.
corrective
panacea
Foreign aid shouldn't always be a panacea for natural disasters; long-term preventative measures must be developed
restorative
nostrum
Supermarket shelves are lined with nostrums claiming to alleviate flu symptoms.
Quotations
It is part of the cure to wish to be cured [Seneca – Phaedra]The cure is worse than the disease [Philip Massinger – The Bondman]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of amend
Definition
to make small changes to something such as a piece of writing or a contract, in order to improve it
The committee put forward proposals to amend the penal system.
Synonyms
change,
improve,
reform,
fix,
correct,
repair,
edit,
alter,
enhance,
update,
revise,
modify,
remedy,
rewrite,
mend,
rectify,
tweak (informal),
ameliorate,
redraw,
rebrand,
better
in the sense of antidote
Definition
a substance that counteracts a poison
He noticed their sickness and prepared an antidote.