aid

aid is on the Academic Word List.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /eɪl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: aide

Noun

Singular aid

Plural aids

1. (uncountable) Aid is the help that is given to people, usually by a government or institution.

   After the flood the UN sent $500 million of aid in the form of food, water, tents, and medical supplies.

2. (countable) An aid is a person or thing that helps you do an activity.

   The president's aid spoke to the newspapers today.

   I can't see, but I have a number of aids, such as a cane, a dog, and a talking computer, that make my life easier.

Related words

• AIDS

Verb

Plain form aid

Third-person singular aids

Past tense aided

Past participle aided

Present participle aiding

1. If you aid someone, you help them.