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aid

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈeɪd// UK //ˈeɪd// aid Academic General-service

n. money, food, or other help that a country or organization gives to people who need it. It can also mean a tool or object that makes a task easier for you.

n. material or financial assistance provided to a person, group, or nation in distress. In a more general sense, it refers to a person or thing that provides help or facilitates a process.


SIMPLE

The government sent food aid to the region after the flood.

CONTEXTUAL

International organizations provided medical aid to help the local hospitals manage the sudden outbreak of disease.

COMPLEX

While financial aid is essential for immediate relief, long-term economic stability requires structural reforms that allow the local population to become self-sufficient rather than dependent on external support.

Synonyms
Usage

Uncountable when referring to general assistance or international relief; countable when referring to a specific person or device ('a hearing aid').

Pitfall

The country needs many aidsThe country needs a lot of aidWhen referring to humanitarian or financial assistance, the noun is uncountable and cannot be used in the plural.

Idioms1 entry

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