noun · B1

Aid

AYD/eɪd/

Aid is help, especially money, food, or medical care for people in need: foreign aid; first aid; come to someone’s aid. Help is the everyday verb and noun; assistance is more formal. First aid is emergency care before a doctor arrives. Humanitarian aid and financial aid are common news collocations. Do not confuse it with AIDS (the illness) — the spelling and meaning are different. As a verb, aid a process is formal.

Meaning

Help, especially money, food, or medical care given to people in need.

Examples

“The country received medical aid after the earthquake.”
“Charities sent food aid to the flooded region.”
“Every workplace should offer basic first-aid training.”

Good to know

foreign / food / medical / first aid. Formal twin: assistance. Everyday: help. Not the illness AIDS.

Near in meaning

assistance, help

New