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Relief vs Relax - What's the difference?

relief | relax |

As a noun relief

is the removal of stress or discomfort.

As a verb relax is

to calm down.

relief

English

(wikipedia relief)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) . See also relieve.

Noun

(en noun)
  • The removal of stress or discomfort.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness,
  • The feeling associated with the removal of stress or discomfort.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1907, author=
  • , title=The Dust of Conflict , chapter=20 citation , passage=Tony's face expressed relief , and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse, but it may have been a momentary one,
  • The person who takes over a shift for another.
  • Aid or assistance offered in time of need.
  • (legal) Court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, a redress.
  • A lowering of a tax through special provisions; short for tax relief.
  • Synonyms
    * (removal of stress and discomfort) ease, alleviation, liss, respite * (feeling of removal of stress and discomfort) ease, alleviation, liss * (person who takes over a shift) stand-in, substitute, backup, fill-in
    Derived terms
    * relieve * relief agency * relief pitcher * relief map * relief worker

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A type of sculpture or other artwork in which shapes or figures protrude from a flat background.
  • The apparent difference in elevation in the surface of a painting or drawing made noticeable by a variation in light or color.
  • The difference of elevations on a surface.
  • the relief on that part of the Earth's surface
    Synonyms
    * (type of artwork) embossing * (difference of elevations on a surface) texture, topography

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    relax

    English

    Verb

    (es)
  • To calm down.
  • To make something loose.
  • to relax''' a rope or cord; to '''relax the muscles or sinews
  • * Milton
  • Horror all his joints relaxed .
  • To become loose.
  • To make something less severe or tense.
  • to relax''' discipline; to '''relax one's attention or endeavours
  • To become less severe or tense.
  • To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • The stature of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legislature.
    {{quote-book
    , year=1953 , author=Edward Corwin , title=The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation , chapter=Section 2. Jurisdiction citation , page=589 , passage=The Court rejected the contention that the doctrine of sovereign immunity should be relaxed as inapplicable to suits for specific relief as distinguished from damage suits, saying: "The Government, as representative of the community as a whole, cannot be stopped in its tracks by any plaintiff who presents a disputed question of property or contract right."}}
  • (of codes and regulations) To become more lenient.
  • To relieve (something) from stress.
  • Amusement relaxes the mind.
  • (dated) To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.
  • An aperient relaxes the bowels.

    Antonyms

    * stress, excite

    Derived terms

    * relaxable

    Anagrams

    * ----