relief

re·lief

R0140100 (rĭ-lēf′)n.1. a. The easing of a pain, distress, or anxiety: The drug provides quick relief from asthma. The news of their safe arrival came as a great relief.b. Something that alleviates pain, distress, or anxiety: It was a relief to see that everyone had arrived safely.2. a. Aid in time of danger: disaster relief.b. Rescue from a siege: troops sent for the relief of the fort.c. Public assistance: people eligible for relief.3. a. Release from a post or duty, such as that of sentinel.b. One who takes over a post or duty for another.4. Something that makes a pleasant or amusing change from something tedious or unpleasant: The music was a great relief after all those phone calls.5. a. 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.b. A work of art featuring such projection. Also called relievo.6. Geology The variations in elevation of an area of the earth's surface.7. Distinction or prominence due to contrast: "The light brought the white church ... into relief from the flat ledges" (Willa Cather).8. Law The objective sought by a lawsuit or legal action, such as an award of monetary damages or an order requiring the other party to take a particular action.9. Baseball The pitching done by a relief pitcher: gave the team two innings of excellent relief.10. A payment made by the heir of a deceased tenant to a feudal lord for the privilege of succeeding to the tenant's estate.Idiom: on relief Receiving public assistance because of need or poverty.

[Middle English, from Old French, from relever, to relieve; see relieve. Senses 5, 6, and 7, French, from Italian rilievo; see bas-relief.]

relief

(rɪˈliːf) n1. a feeling of cheerfulness or optimism that follows the removal of anxiety, pain, or distress: I breathed a sigh of relief. 2. deliverance from or alleviation of anxiety, pain, distress, etc3. (Social Welfare) a. help or assistance, as to the poor, needy, or distressedb. (as modifier): relief work. 4. short for tax relief5. something that affords a diversion from monotony6. a person who replaces or relieves another at some task or duty7. a bus, shuttle plane, etc, that carries additional passengers when a scheduled service is full8. (Human Geography) a road (relief road) carrying traffic round an urban area; bypass9. (Military) a. the act of freeing a beleaguered town, fortress, etc: the relief of Mafeking. b. (as modifier): a relief column. 10. (Art Terms) sculpture architect a. the projection of forms or figures from a flat ground, so that they are partly or wholly free of itb. a piece of work of this kind11. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) a printing process, such as engraving, letterpress, etc, that employs raised surfaces from which ink is transferred to the paper12. any vivid effect resulting from contrast: comic relief. 13. (Physical Geography) variation in altitude in an area; difference between highest and lowest level: a region of low relief. 14. (Mechanical Engineering) mechanical engineering the removal of the surface material of a bearing area to allow the access of lubricating fluid15. (Law) law redress of a grievance or hardship: to seek relief through the courts. 16. (Historical Terms) European history a succession of payments made by an heir to a fief to his lord: the size of the relief was determined by the lord within bounds set by custom17. (Social Welfare) on relief US and Canadian (of a person) in receipt of government aid because of personal need[C14: from Old French, from relever to raise up; see relieve]

re•lief¹

(rɪˈlif)

n. 1. alleviation of or deliverance from pain, distress, anxiety, oppression, etc. 2. a feeling of comfort or ease caused by such alleviation or deliverance. 3. money, food, or other help given to those in poverty or need. 4. something affording a pleasing change, as from monotony. 5. release from a post of duty, as by the arrival of a replacement. 6. the person or persons acting as replacement. 7. the rescue of a besieged town, fort, etc., from an attacking force. 8. the freeing of a closed space, as a tank or boiler, from more than a desirable amount of pressure or vacuum. 9. a sum of money paid by the heir of a feudal tenant to the lord for the privilege of succeeding to the estate. Idioms: on relief, receiving financial assistance from a government agency. [1300–50; Middle English relef < Old French relief, derivative of relever to raise; see relieve]

re•lief²

(rɪˈlif)

n. 1. prominence, distinctness, or vividness due to contrast. 2. the projection of a figure or part from the ground or plane on which it is formed, as in sculpture or similar work. 3. a piece or work in such projection. 4. an apparent projection of parts in a painting, drawing, etc., giving the appearance of the third dimension. 5. the differences in elevation and slope between the higher and lower parts of the land surface of a given area. 6. a printing process, as letterpress, in which ink is transferred to paper from raised printing surfaces. [1600–10; < French relief and Italian rilievo; see relief¹]

leftover, relic, relief - Before leftovers were called leftovers, they were called relics, and, before that, relief.See also related terms for leftovers.

relief

Inequalities of evaluation and the configuration of land features on the surface of the Earth which may be represented on maps or charts by contours, hypsometric tints, shading, or spot elevations.

relieve

relief1. 'relieve'

Relieve /rɪ'liːv/ is a verb. If something relieves an unpleasant feeling, it makes it less unpleasant.

Anxiety may be relieved by talking to a friend.The passengers in the plane swallow to relieve the pressure on their eardrums.

If someone or something relieves you of an unpleasant feeling or difficulty, you no longer have it.

The news relieved him of some of his embarrassment.

Relieve is often used in the passive structure be relieved. If you are relieved, you feel happy because something unpleasant has stopped or has not happened.

I was relieved when Hannah finally arrived.

Be relieved is often followed by a to-infinitive.

He was relieved to find he'd suffered no more than a few scratches.2. 'relief'

Relief /rɪ'liːf/ is a noun. If you feel relief, you feel glad because something unpleasant has stopped or has not happened.

I breathed a sigh of relief.To my relief, he found the suggestion acceptable.

Relief is also money, food, or clothing that is provided for people who are very poor or hungry.

We are providing relief to vulnerable refugees, especially those who are sick.

relief

1. (1) The projection of an image from its background. (2) (painting and drawing) The apparent projection of parts conveying the illusion of three dimensions. (3) (printing) Any process in which ink impressions are produced from the high areas of prepared printing blocks.2. Sculpture that is not free-standing from its background; various degrees, from bas-relief (low relief) to alto-relievo (high relief). Compare intaglio3. Public assistance.4. Differences in height for any area of the Earth’s surface.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	relief - the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced; "as he heard the news he was suddenly flooded with relief"alleviation, assuagementcomfort - a feeling of freedom from worry or disappointment
	2.	relief - the condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress); "he enjoyed his relief from responsibility"; "getting it off his conscience gave him some ease"easecomfort, comfortableness - a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain; "he is a man who enjoys his comfort"; "she longed for the comfortableness of her armchair"reprieve, respite - a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
	3.	relief - (law) redress awarded by a court; "was the relief supposed to be protection from future harm or compensation for past injury?"law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"amends, damages, indemnification, redress, restitution, indemnity - a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
	4.	relief - someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult); "the star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes"; "we need extra employees for summer fill-ins"backup man, fill-in, reliever, stand-in, backup, substitutecompeer, equal, peer, match - a person who is of equal standing with another in a grouplocum, locum tenens - someone (physician or clergyman) who substitutes temporarily for another member of the same professionstunt man, stunt woman, double - a stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts; "his first job in Hollywood was as a double for Clark Gable"alternate, surrogate, replacement - someone who takes the place of another person
	5.	relief - assistance in time of difficulty; "the contributions provided some relief for the victims"ministration, succor, succourassist, assistance, help, aid - the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "he gave me an assist with the housework"; "could not walk without assistance"; "rescue party went to their aid"; "offered his help in unloading"consolation, solace, comfort - the act of consoling; giving relief in affliction; "his presence was a consolation to her"mercy - alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed; "distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy"
	6.	relief - a pause for relaxation; "people actually accomplish more when they take time for short rests"rest period, rest, respitepause, suspension, intermission, interruption, break - a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of somethingbreather, breathing place, breathing space, breathing spell, breathing time, breath - a short respite
	7.	relief - a change for the bettereasing, moderationalteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago"disembarrassment - something that extricates you from embarrassmentbreath of fresh air - a welcome relief; "the new management was like a breath of fresh air"
	8.	relief - aid for the aged or indigent or handicapped; "he has been on relief for many years"public assistance, social welfare, welfare - governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need; "she lives on welfare"
	9.	relief - the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance); "he asked the nurse for relief from the constant pain"alleviation, easement, easingreduction, step-down, diminution, decrease - the act of decreasing or reducing somethingspasmolysis - the relaxation or relief of muscle spasmsdetente - the easing of tensions or strained relations (especially between nations)palliation - easing the severity of a pain or a disease without removing the causeliberalisation, liberalization, relaxation - the act of making less strictdecompressing, decompression - relieving pressure (especially bringing a compressed person gradually back to atmospheric pressure)
	10.	relief - sculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the surrounding backgroundrelievo, rilievo, sculptural relief, embossmentalto relievo, alto rilievo, high relief - a sculptural relief in which forms extend out from the background to at least half their depthbas relief, basso relievo, basso rilievo, low relief - a sculptural relief in which forms extend only slightly from the background; no figures are undercuthalf-relief, mezzo-relievo, mezzo-rilievo - a sculptural relief between low relief and high reliefsculpture - a three-dimensional work of plastic art
	11.	relief - the act of freeing a city or town that has been besieged; "he asked for troops for the relief of Atlanta"freeing, liberation, release - the act of liberating someone or something

relief

noun1. ease, release, comfort, cure, remedy, solace, balm, deliverance, mitigation, abatement, alleviation, easement, palliation, assuagement The news will come as a great relief.2. rest, respite, let-up, relaxation, break, diversion, refreshment (informal), remission, breather (informal) a self-help programme which can give lasting relief3. aid, help, support, assistance, sustenance, succour famine relief4. replacement, cover, supply, reserve, substitute, stand-in, standby, locum No relief drivers were available.Quotations
"For this relief much thanks" [William Shakespeare Hamlet]

relief

noun1. The act or an instance of helping:abetment, aid, assist, assistance, hand, help, succor, support.2. Freedom, especially from pain:alleviation, assuagement, ease, mitigation, palliation.3. Assistance, especially money, food, and other necessities, given to the needy or dispossessed:aid, dole, handout, public assistance, welfare.4. A person or persons taking over the duties of another:replacement.

Translations

减轻换班换班的人援救救济

relief

(rəˈliːf) noun1. a lessening or stopping of pain, worry, boredom etc. When one has a headache, an aspirin brings relief; He gave a sigh of relief; It was a great relief to find nothing had been stolen. （痛苦的）减轻 2. help (eg food) given to people in need of it. famine relief; (also adjective) A relief fund has been set up to send supplies to the refugees.救济3. a person who takes over some job or task from another person, usually after a given period of time. The bus-driver was waiting for his relief; (also adjective) a relief driver. 换班（的人） 4. the act of freeing a town etc from siege. the relief of Mafeking.援救5. a way of carving etc in which the design is raised above the level of its background. a carving in relief.浮雕reˈlieve (-v) verb1. to lessen or stop (pain, worry etc). The doctor gave him some drugs to relieve the pain; to relieve the hardship of the refugees. 减轻（痛苦） 2. to take over a job or task from. You guard the door first, and I'll relieve you in two hours.换岗3. to dismiss (a person) from his job or position. He was relieved of his post/duties.解除4. to take (something heavy, difficult etc) from someone. May I relieve you of that heavy case?; The new gardener relieved the old man of the burden of cutting the grass.替...人拿...5. to come to the help of (a town etc which is under siege or attack). 救援reˈlieved adjective no longer anxious or worried. I was relieved to hear you had arrived safely. 轻松（的）

relief

→ 减轻zhCN

relief

relief,

in sculpture, three-dimensional projection from a flat background. In alto-relievo, or high relief, the protrusion is great; basso-relievo, or bas-relief, protrudes only slightly; and mezzo-relievo is intermediate between the two. Ancient Egyptians and Etruscans also used cavo relievo, intagliointaglio
, design cut into stone or other material or etched or engraved in a metal plate, producing a concave, instead of a convex, effect. It is the reverse of a relief or cameo. The term also designates a gem so cut.
..... Click the link for more information. , or sunken relief, in which the design is incised deeper than the background. High relief, although also used in ancient times, reached its climax in the baroque period. Bas-relief is commonly employed on coins and on medals.

Relief

Carved or embossed decoration of a figure or form, raised above the background plane from which it is formed.

alto-relievo

Sculptural relief work in which the figures project more than half their thickness from the base surface.

anal glyph

An embellishment carved in low relief.

bas-reliefSculptural decoration in low relief, in which none of the figures or motifs are separated from their background, projecting less than half their true proportions from the wall or surface.

cavo-relievoRelief which does not project above the general surface upon which it is carved.

diaglyph

A relief engraved in reverse; an intaglio; a sunken relief.

glyph

A sculptured pictograph; a grooved channel, usually vertical, intended as an ornament.

high relief

Sculptural relief work in which the figures project more than half their thickness from the base.

in cavetto

The reverse of relief; differing from intaglio in that the designs are pressed into plaster or clay.

mezzo-relievo

Casting, carving, or embossing in moderate relief, intermediate between bas-relief and high relief.

stiacciato

In very low relief, as if a bas-relief had been pressed even flatter.

sunk relief

A relief in which the highest point of the forms does not project above the general surface from which it is modeled; also called cavo-relievo.

Relief

a work of sculpture on a flat surface. A relief is specifically characterized by a continuous connection with the surface, which serves as the physical base and background of the sculptural representation. The medium’s most expressive qualities are the unfolding of the composition on a flat surface, the use of a spatial perspective, the illusion of rounded three-dimensional forms, and the subtle modeling of figures. These factors make it possible to render in relief architecture, landscapes, and scenes with many figures. Reliefs can be incorporated into the composition of a wall, arch, or piece of sculpture. A relief may also be an independent work.

Reliefs are either sunken or raised. Sunk, or coelanaglyphic, relief, in which the outlines of modeled forms are incised in a plane surface, was used primarily in ancient Egyptian architecture and in ancient Greek, Roman, and Oriental glyptics. A variation of sunk relief is intaglio—the exact reverse of raised relief. Intaglio was intended as a means to achieve a miniature low relief.

Raised relief, which includes low relief and high relief, is much more common than sunk relief. It was used in the Paleolithic and, later, in Egypt, Assyria, India, and China. Raised relief was widely used to embellish Greek temples (pediments, metopes, and friezes) and Roman triumphal arches and columns. High relief also flourished during the Renaissance and in the sculpture of subsequent periods.

Relief

(geography), the irregularities on the land surface and ocean floor, differing in their configurations, dimensions, origin, age, and history of development. The relief is composed of combined forms—three-dimensional bodies that are formed in definite portions of the earth’s crust. They are bounded by two-dimensional elements or limiting surfaces such as slopes and horizontal and subhorizontal surfaces.

Relief forms may be positive (convex), such as uplands and mountains, or negative (concave), for example, basins and river valleys. They are also characterized as simple or complex (complicated by secondary irregularities). Several types of relief may be distinguished depending on the size of the forms: megarelief, which includes both global forms (for example, continental prominences and the ocean floor) and forms of a somewhat lesser order (mountain systems, plains regions); macrorelief (mountain ranges, intermontane basins, uplands, and lowlands); mesorelief (canyons, submarine canyons, hills); micro-relief (karst sinks, steppe depressions); and nanorelief (minute sinks, mole and marmot hills, termite mounds). This division of relief is arbitrary because no precise quantitative boundaries between these categories have been established.

External, or morphographic, relief features characterize the shape of slopes and their combinations, the length and orientation of the most important orographic units, and quantitative characteristics of the relief. Such external features cannot always serve as a reliable basis for a comprehensive description of the relief because forms with identical external characteristics often have a different origin and develop differently. In mor-phogenetic analysis a distinction should be made between endogenous relief-forming factors, caused by the internal forces of the earth (primarily tectonic movements and volcanic activity), and exogenous factors, related to the radiant energy of the sun (flowing water, glaciers, wind, wave action on the shores of seas and lakes, differential weathering). Gravitational processes (landslides, rock falls) occur under the direct influence of the force of gravity on the earth’s surface. Human activity also plays a significant part in shaping the relief.

As a component of the geographic environment and a cause of major changes in many climatic features, in the nature and distribution of surface subterranean waters, and in the soil and vegetation, the relief determines the conditions of its further development.

Endogenous and exogenous processes act on the earth’s surface simultaneously, but with varying intensity over time and space. Where endogenous processes play the leading role, major (structural) relief forms usually develop both on dry land and on the sea floor.

The formation of the largest (global) forms is also related to cosmic forces, such as the rotation of the earth and solar-lunar attraction. Exogenous processes usually mold the smaller (sculptural) forms, which are irregularities of larger forms. Depending on the prevalence of a particular exogenous factor, relief forms are classified as fluvial forms, which owe their appearance to the action of rivers and ephemeral streams; glacial forms, caused by the activity of modern and ancient glaciers; permafrost, or cryogenic forms; and arid forms, created chiefly by physical weathering and wind action.

Regions of tectonic uplift and subsidence are influenced in morphologically opposite directions by external processes: the uplifted and rising segments of the earth’s crust disintegrate and are subjected to erosive denudation, whereas the subsiding sectors are filled with the products of disintegration and ablation, becoming accumulation areas.

According to W. Penck, the predominance of tectonic uplifts over the combined action of external forces results in an accelerating development of relief, characterized by an increase in absolute and relative elevations, in the depth of dissection, and in the steepness of slopes. River erosion and denudation processes are vigorous in areas of accelerating relief development. An example of such relief development is alpine type of relief characteristic of young mountain regions such as the Alps and the Himalayas.

A preponderance of destructive exogenous factors leads to the disintegration of positive relief elements, to declining development: a decrease in absolute and relative elevations, the appearance of concave slope forms, and a slackening of erosion and denudation processes. In mountain lands, declining development corresponds to mid-elevation relief, exemplified by the Urals and Appalachians. As they become lower, mid-elevation mountains are transformed into low-elevation relief, for example, certain sections of the Kazakh Melkosopochnik. Peneplains are formed in the final stage of the declining development of relief.

If tectonic subsidence occurs, depending on the intensity of the action of external forces, the depressions in the relief will either increase in size or level out through the accumulation of loose material carried from outside.

With the passage of geological time the correlation between the relief-forming factors in each segment of the earth’s surface changes often, leaving its mark on the relief. Contemporary land relief includes elements of different ages with traces of both accelerating and declining development. Therefore, for a better understanding of relief, it is customary to consider it in its paleogeographic aspect. Stratification of relief is an index of the alternation of accelerating and declining relief development in mountains over time, and its study helps clarify the history of development of the mountain country as a whole.

The combination of exogenous factors and the relative role of a particular exogenous factor in relief formation depend on climate. For this reason, the distribution on earth of relief forms created primarily by exogenous processes follows the law of geographic zonality. Within plains areas, there are clearly discernible morphoclimatic zones corresponding to the territorial differentiation of present-day exogenous processes.

In mountain country, owing to climatic differences caused by elevation, vertical morphological zonality is observed. Changes in climate, geographical zonality, and vertical zonality that occurred in the geological past are reflected in present-day relief because it preserves its features for some time under changed conditions. In the contemporary landscape, therefore, relict relief not typical of modern morphoclimatic conditions may be observed in places. The glacial relief forms on the East European Plain, for example, are a relict of Pleistocene glaciation. By identifying relict forms it is possible to predict the direction of the further development of relief.

Complexes of elementary forms that are similar in external appearance and origin and that recur regularly over a certain area are called genetic relief types. Their territorial isolation may be related to geological structure (for example, step-like relief), the predominant influence of some external relief-forming factor (glacial, water erosion, and eolian relief), or the preponderant influence of tectonic factors (primary tectonic relief).

One of the more complex current problems is the creation of a genetic classification of relief. Such a classification is necessary not only for theoretical generalization but also for geomor-phological mapping. The most widely used classification in the USSR is based on the identification of major genetic relief categories resulting from the predominant influence of endogenous or exogenous relief-forming processes.

Relief forms created primarily by endogenous processes are classified as morphostructures. Morphostructures clearly reflect the geological structures of the earth’s crust. Thus, platform geological structures with horizontal bedding correspond chiefly to plains areas, and folded structures are associated with mountain country. Smaller relief forms of predominantly exogenous origin, such as river valleys, canyons, barchans, and moraine ridges, are identified as morphosculptures.

The genesis of relief is studied in geomorphology. The results of studying relief are used in solving many problems relating to land improvement, engineering and technical investigation, and prospecting for useful minerals.

REFERENCES

Markov, K. K. Osnovnye problemy geomorfologii. Moscow, 1948.
Shchukin, I. S. Obshchaia geomorfologiia, 2nd ed., vols. 1–3. Moscow, 1960–74.
Nikolaev, N. I. Neotektonika i ee vyrazhenie ν strukture i rel’efe terrilorii SSSR. Moscow, 1962.
Meshcheriakov, Iu. A. Strukturnaia geomorfologiia ravninnykh stran. Moscow, 1965.
Meshcheriakov, Iu. A. Rel’ef SSSR (Morfostruktura i morfoskul’ptura). Moscow, 1972.
Rel’ef Zemli (Morfostruktura i morfoskul’ptura). Moscow, 1967.
Zvonkova, T. V. Prikladnaia geomorfologiia. Moscow, 1970.
Krivolutskii, A. E. Zhizn’ zemnoi poverkhnosti (Problemy geomorfologii). Moscow, 1971.

T. K. ZAKHAROVA

relief

[ri′lēf] (crystallography) The apparent topography exhibited by minerals in thin section as a consequence of refractive index. (geodesy) The configuration of a part of the earth's surface, with reference to altitude and slope variations and to irregularities of the land surface. (mechanical engineering) A passage made by cutting away one side of a tailstock center so that the facing or parting tool may be advanced to or almost to the center of the work. Clearance provided around the cutting edge by removal of tool material.

relief

relief Sculptured work, carving, casting, or embossing that is raised above the plane of its background. Also called relievo; see bas-relief, demi-relief, high relief, mezzo-relievo, sunk relief.

relief

The layout of the ground in terms of height, features represented on the map by contours, layer tints, spot heights, and shading.

relief

1. a. help or assistance, as to the poor, needy, or distressed b. (as modifier): relief work 2. a road (relief road) carrying traffic round an urban area; bypass 3. Sculpture Architecta. the projection of forms or figures from a flat ground, so that they are partly or wholly free of it b. a piece of work of this kind 4. variation in altitude in an area; difference between highest and lowest level 5. Mechanical engineering the removal of the surface material of a bearing area to allow the access of lubricating fluid 6. Law redress of a grievance or hardship 7. European history a succession of payments made by an heir to a fief to his lord: the size of the relief was determined by the lord within bounds set by custom 8. on relief US and Canadian (of people) in receipt of government aid because of personal need

relief

re·lief

relief

re•lief1

re•lief2

relief

relieve

relief

relief

relief

relief

relief

relief

be on relief

go on relief

heave a sigh of relief

sigh of relief

breathe a sigh of relief

light relief

on relief

breathe a sigh of relief

throw something into sharp relief

on relief

on relief

sigh of relief, (heave) a

relief

relief,

Relief

alto-relievo

anal glyph

diaglyph

glyph

high relief

in cavetto

mezzo-relievo

stiacciato

sunk relief

Relief

Relief

REFERENCES

relief

relief

relief

relief

relief

re·lief

relief

re·lief

Patient discussion about relief

relief

Relief

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relief

Relief

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RELIEF

relief

Synonyms for relief

noun ease

Synonyms

noun rest

Synonyms

noun aid

Synonyms

noun replacement

Synonyms

Synonyms for relief

noun the act or an instance of helping

Synonyms

noun freedom, especially from pain

Synonyms

noun assistance, especially money, food, and other necessities, given to the needy or dispossessed

Synonyms

noun a person or persons taking over the duties of another

Synonyms

Synonyms for relief

noun the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

Synonyms

Related Words

noun the condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress)

re•lief¹

re•lief²