help (hɛlp) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) |
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| —vb (foll by to) |
| 1. | to assist or aid (someone to do something), esp by sharing the work, cost, or burden of something: he helped his friend to escape; she helped him climb out of the boat |
| 2. | to alleviate the burden of (someone else) by giving assistance |
| 3. | (tr) to assist (a person) to go in a specified direction: help the old lady up from the chair |
| 4. | to promote or contribute to: to help the relief operations |
| 5. | to cause improvement in (a situation, person, etc): crying won't help |
| 6. | (tr; preceded by can, could, etc; usually used with a negative) |
| | a. to avoid or refrain from: we can't help wondering who he is |
| | b. (usually foll by it) to prevent or be responsible for: I can't help it if it rains |
| 7. | to alleviate (an illness, etc) |
| 8. | (tr) to serve (a customer): can I help you, madam? |
| 9. | a. to serve (someone with food, etc) (usually in the phrase help oneself): may I help you to some more vegetables?; help yourself to peas |
| | b. to provide (oneself with) without permission: he's been helping himself to money out of the petty cash |
| 10. | cannot help but to be unable to do anything else except: I cannot help but laugh |
| 11. | help a person off with to assist a person in the removal of (clothes) |
| 12. | help a person on with to assist a person in the putting on of (clothes) |
| 13. | so help me |
| | a. on my honour |
| | b. no matter what: so help me, I'll get revenge |
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| —n |
| 14. | the act of helping, or being helped, or a person or thing that helps: she's a great help |
| 15. | a helping |
| 16. | a. a person hired for a job; employee, esp a farm worker or domestic servant |
| | b. (functioning as singular) several employees collectively |
| 17. | a means of remedy: there's no help for it |
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| —interj |
| 18. | used to ask for assistance |
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| [Old English helpan; related to Old Norse hjalpa, Gothic hilpan, Old High German helfan] |
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| 'helpable |
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| —adj |
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| 'helper |
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| —n |