repair

¹

[ri-pair]

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

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

[ri-pair]

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.

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

/ 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)

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

/ 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

noun

1. the act of going or returning

2. a haunt or resort

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of repair¹

C14: from Old French reparer , from Latin reparāre , from _re- + parāre to make ready

Origin of repair²

C14: from Old French repairier , from Late Latin repatriāre to return to one's native land, from Latin _re- + patria fatherland; compare _repatriate

Synonym Study

See renew.

Example Sentences

In El Segundo, crews were repairing roads, pruning trees, schools were in session.

From Los Angeles Times

National Highways said all the southbound lanes had reopened on Thursday after emergency repair works overnight.

From BBC

In a joint statement on 14 March, Senegal's environment and energy ministries said tests and observations carried out revealed there were no further leaks after BP repaired the well.

From BBC

Once in surgery, Ms Booth and her colleague discovered a complication and decided against using the Ozaki procedure, instead choosing to repair a tear.

From BBC

Burdened by this history, and the ever-increasing expensive repairs, the city locked the front gates and abandoned the entire site in 1971.

From Salon

Related Words

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