Dictionary.com

aid

[ eyd ]
/ eɪd /
Save This Word!

verb (used with object)
to provide support for or relief to; help: to aid the victims of the fire.
to promote the progress or accomplishment of; facilitate.
verb (used without object)
to give help or assistance.
noun
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?

Origin of aid

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English noun aide, eide, from Anglo-French, Old French aide, derivative of verb aid(i)er, from Latin adjūtāre “to help”; see also adjuvant

synonym study for aid

1. See help.

words often confused with aid

Although the nouns aid and aide both have among their meanings “an assisting person,” the spelling aide is increasingly used for the sense “helper, assistant”: One of the senator's aides is calling. Aide in military use is short for aide-de-camp. It is also the spelling in nurse's aide.

OTHER WORDS FROM aid

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH aid

1. aid , aide (see usage note at the current entry)2. aides, aids , AIDS

Other definitions for aid (2 of 3)

AID1
[ eyd ]
/ eɪd /

noun U.S. Government.
the division of the United States International Development Cooperation Agency that coordinates the various foreign aid programs with U.S. foreign policy: established in 1961.

Origin of AID

1
A(gency for) I(nternational) D(evelopment)

Other definitions for aid (3 of 3)

AID2

abbreviation
American Institute of Decorators.
American Institute of Interior Designers.
British. artificial insemination donor.Also A.I.D.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use aid in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for aid (1 of 3)

aid
/ (eɪd) /

verb
to give support to (someone to do something); help or assist
(tr) to assist financially
noun

Derived forms of aid

aider, noun

Word Origin for aid

C15: via Old French aidier from Latin adjūtāre to help, from juvāre to help

British Dictionary definitions for aid (2 of 3)

Aid

-aid


n combining form
denoting a charitable organization or function that raises money for a causeBand Aid; Ferryaid

British Dictionary definitions for aid (3 of 3)

AID

abbreviation for
acute infectious disease
artificial insemination (by) donor: former name for Donor Insemination (DI)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK