English Dictionary

Definition of “ease

ease (iːzPronunciation for ease

Definitions

noun

  1. freedom from discomfort, worry, or anxiety
  2. lack of difficulty, labour, or awkwardness; facility
  3. rest, leisure, or relaxation
  4. freedom from poverty or financial embarrassment; affluence  ⇒ a life of ease 
  5. lack of restraint, embarrassment, or stiffness  ⇒ his ease of manner disarmed us 
  6. See at ease

verb

  1. to make or become less burdensome
  2. (tr) to relieve (a person) of worry or care; comfort
  3. (tr) to make comfortable or give rest to
  4. (tr) to make less difficult; facilitate
  5. to move or cause to move into, out of, etc, with careful manipulation  ⇒ to ease a car into a narrow space 
  6.  when intr, often foll by off or up to lessen or cause to lessen in severity, pressure, tension, or strain; slacken, loosen, or abate
  7. See ease oneself
  8. See ease the helm

Alternative Forms

ˈeaser noun

Word Origin

C13: from Old French aise  ease, opportunity, from Latin adjacēns neighbouring (area); see adjacent

Usage examples

  • Damin's Raiders were picking off their flanks with the same careless ease they demonstrated on the practice field shooting at melons.
    Jennifer Fallon, TREASON KEEP (2001)
  • Top end bikes are incredibly light - often as light if not lighter than high-end road bikes - for ease of lifting and carrying.
    Cycling Weekly (2004)
  • In fact, it's a good representation of the ease in which two totally dissimilar cultures can mix given the right opportunity.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • Merging with the kitchen is the dining and family area which accommodates a dining table and comfy sofa with ease.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • To ease her anxiety they said they would give her only four hours notice of her operation!
    Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)

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