repair

¹ American  

[ri-pair] / rɪˈpɛər /

verb (used with object)

1. to restore to a good or sound condition after decay or damage; mend.

   to repair a motor.

   Synonyms:

   renovate, remodel, fix

   Antonyms:

   destroy, break

2. to restore or renew by any process of making good, strengthening, etc..

   to repair one's health by resting.

   Synonyms:

   amend, rejuvenate, renew

3. to remedy; make good; put right.

   to repair damage;

   to repair a deficiency.

   Synonyms:

   recoup, retrieve

4. to make amends for; compensate.

   to repair a wrong done.

   Synonyms:

   redress

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noun

1. an act, process, or work of repairing.

   to order the repair of a building.

2. Usually repairs.

   1. an instance or operation of repairing.

      to lay up a boat for repairs.

   2. a repaired part or an addition made in repairing.

      Seventeenth-century repairs in brick are conspicuous in parts of the medieval stonework.

3. repairs, (in bookkeeping, accounting, etc.) the part of maintenance expense that has been paid out to keep fixed assets in usable condition, as distinguished from amounts used for renewal or replacement.

4. the good condition resulting from continued maintenance and repairing.

   to keep in repair.

5. condition with respect to soundness and usability.

   a house in good repair.

repair ² American  

[ri-pair] / rɪˈpɛər /

verb (used without object)

1. to betake oneself; go, as to a place.

   He repaired in haste to Washington.

2. to go frequently or customarily.

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noun

1. a resort or haunt.

2. the act of going or going customarily; resort.

   to have repair to the country.

3. Scot. Obsolete. a meeting, association, or crowd of people.

repair ¹ British  

/ rɪˈpɛə /

verb

1. to restore (something damaged or broken) to good condition or working order

2. to heal (a breach or division) in (something)

   to repair a broken marriage

3. to make good or make amends for (a mistake, injury, etc)

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noun

1. the act, task, or process of repairing

2. a part that has been repaired

3. state or condition

   in good repair

repair ² British  

/ rɪˈpɛə /

verb

1. (usually foll by to) to go (to a place)

   to repair to the country

2. (usually foll by to) to have recourse (to) for help, etc

   to repair to one's lawyer

3. archaic (usually foll by from) to come back; return

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noun

1. the act of going or returning

2. a haunt or resort

Related Words

See renew.

Other Word Forms

• nonrepairable adjective
• repairability noun
• repairable adjective
• repairableness noun
• repairer noun

Etymology

Origin of repair¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English reparen, repairen, from Middle French reparer, from Latin reparāre, equivalent to re- re- + parāre to prepare; pare

Origin of repair²

First recorded 1300–50; Middle English repairen, repeiren, from Old French repairier, repeirier, “to return,” from Late Latin repatriāre “to return to one's homeland”; repatriate

Example Sentences

But repeated setbacks stalled the mission and even necessitated rolling the rocket back to its hangar for analysis and repairs.

From Barron's

The station where Williams stopped is situated along a busy road in the city of Falls Church, nestled between an Anglican church, an auto repair shop and a dentist's office.

From Barron's

If Timberlake does appear, it should be in service of restoring her to her rightful place in pop culture’s firmament instead of repairing his mildly dented image.

From Salon

The novelty of the device’s design also prompted Samsung to offer any buyer a one-time 50% discount on display repair costs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Qatar says it will take up to five years to repair damage to the Ras Laffan site, which will delay how soon flows go back to normal and keep global prices high.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• compensate for
• correct
• heal
• improve
• mend
• overhaul
• patch
• rebuild
• recover
• rectify
• refurbish
• remedy
• renovate
• retrieve
• revamp
• revive