aid
aid
I
/ˈeıd/ verb , aids, aid·ed, aid·ing
: to provide what is useful or necessary : help
[ + obj ] They gave money in order to aid the cause.
She aided them in their efforts.
He jumped into the water to aid the drowning child.
His position was aided [=strengthened] by the fact that he was right.
a home run that was aided by the wind
aiding the poor
She aided the government in the attempt to fight illiteracy.
She is charged with aiding and abetting [=helping and encouraging] the thief in his getaway.
[ no obj ]
— usually + in
She aided in the attempt to fight illiteracy.
His research aided in the discovery of a new treatment for cancer.
The research aided in establishing new theories.
————————
II
noun , pl aids
1 [ noncount ] : the act of helping someone : help or assistance given to someone
The teacher enlisted/sought the aid of several students for the project. [=the teacher asked several students to help with the project]
The project was completed with the aid of several students.
The work was done with the aid of a computer.
I can no longer read without the aid of glasses. [=without using glasses]
When the climbers became trapped by bad weather, a rescue party was sent to their aid. [=was sent to help/rescue them]
2 [ noncount ]
2 a : something (such as money, food, or equipment) that is given by a government or an organization to help the people in a country or area where many people are suffering because of poverty, disease, etc.
The government has given millions of dollars in economic/foreign aid to these nations.
humanitarian aid
— often used before another noun
international aid organizations
an aid worker [=a person who goes to a foreign country to help the people there]
2 b : money that is given to a student to help pay for the cost of attending a school
She applied for financial/student aid in order to go to college.
3 [ count ]
3 a : something that provides help or assistance
The diagram is provided as an aid to understanding.
The computer is an aid to keeping costs down.
3 b : a device, object, etc., that makes something easier to do
He teaches art with visual aids.
aids to navigation = navigational aids
instructional/learning aids
a pill used as an aid for sleeping = a sleeping aid
— see also first aid, hearing aid
4 [ count ] chiefly US : a person whose job is to assist someone : aide
She works as a teacher's aid.
in aid of
chiefly Brit : in order to help (something or someone)
The event is being held in aid of charity.
in aid of refugees
◇ The informal British expression What's (all) this/that in aid of? is used to ask about the purpose of something.
“What's all this rushing about in aid of, then?” [=what's all this rushing about for?] “We're trying to get things ready for the boss's visit.”
