Collins English-English Dictionary

ease [iːz]

1. 1. n freedom from discomfort, worry, or anxiety

2. 2. n lack of difficulty, labour, or awkwardness; facility

3. 3. n rest, leisure, or relaxation

4. 4. n freedom from poverty or financial embarrassment; affluence

   a life of ease

5. 5. n lack of restraint, embarrassment, or stiffness

   his ease of manner disarmed us

6. 6. vb to make or become less burdensome

7. 7. vt. [tr] to relieve (a person) of worry or care; comfort

8. 8. vt. [tr] to make comfortable or give rest to

9. 9. vt. [tr] to make less difficult; facilitate

10. 10. vt. to move or cause to move into, out of, etc, with careful manipulation

    to ease a car into a narrow space

11. 11. vt. [when intr, often foll by off or up] to lessen or cause to lessen in severity, pressure, tension, or strain; slacken, loosen, or abate

12. 12. vt. [Etymology] C13: from Old French aise ease, opportunity, from Latin adjacens neighbouring (area); see adjacent