Ease
WordNet
noun
(1) Freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility)
"Took his repose by the swimming pool"
(2) Freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
"He rose through the ranks with apparent ease"
"They put it into containers for ease of transportation"
"The very easiness of the deed held her back"
(3) Freedom from constraint or embarrassment
"I am never at ease with strangers"
(4) The condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress)
"He enjoyed his relief from responsibility"
"Getting it off his conscience gave him some ease"
(5) A freedom from financial difficulty that promotes a comfortable state
"A life of luxury and ease"
"He had all the material comforts of this world"
verb
(6) Lessen pain or discomfort; alleviate
"Ease the pain in your legs"
(7) Make easier
"You could facilitate the process by sharing your knowledge"
(8) Lessen the intensity of or calm
"The news eased my conscience"
"Still the fears"
(9) Move gently or carefully
"He eased himself into the chair"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From aise, of unknown origin. Earliest meaning was that of "elbow-room, opportunity". Conflicting forms in Romance point to an external, non- origin. Possibly from a or source. Cf eaz, ez "easy", adhais "easy, leisure", ēaþe "easy", azeti "ease", azets "easy"
Noun
- The state of being comfortable or free from stress.
- She enjoyed the ease of living in a house where the servants did all the work.
- Freedom from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
- His mind was at ease when he received his pension.
- Freedom from effort, difficulty or hardship.
- He passed all the exams with ease.
- Dexterity or facility.
- He played the organ with ease.
- Affluence and freedom from financial problems.
- After winning the jackpot, she lived a life of luxurious ease.
- Relaxation, rest and leisure.
- We took our ease on the patio.
Synonyms
- (state of being comfortable or free from stress): comfort, peace
- (freedom from pain, worry, agitation, etc): peace of mind
- (freedom from effort, difficulty or hardship):
- (dexterity or facility): dexterity, facility, skill
- (affluence and freedom from financial problems):
- (relaxation, rest and leisure): free time, leisure, relaxation, rest
Verb
- To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
- He eased his conscience by confessing.
- To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain).
- He loosened his shoe to ease the pain.
- To give respite to (someone).
- The provision of extra staff eased their workload.
- To loosen or slacken the tension on (something).
- We eased the rope, then lowered the sail.
- To reduce the difficulty of (something).
- We had to ease the entry requirements.
- To move (something) slowly and carefully.
- He eased the cork from the bottle.
- To lessen in severity.
- The pain eased overnight.
- To proceed with little effort.
- The car eased onto the motorway.
Synonyms
- (free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc): assuage, salve
- (alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)): alleviate, assuage, lessen, reduce
- (give respite to (someone)): give someone a break (informal), lay off (informal)
- (loosen or slacken the tension on (something)): loosen, relax, slacken
- (reduce the difficulty of (something)): simplify
- (move (something) slowly and carefully):
- (lessen in severity): lessen, reduce
- (proceed with little effort): cruise