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. 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

repair

²

/ 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

Derived Forms

• reˈpairer, noun
• reˈpairable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·paira·ble adjective
• re·paira·bili·ty re·paira·ble·ness noun
• nonre·paira·ble adjective

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 repairier , from Late Latin repatriāre to return to one's native land, from Latin re- + patria fatherland; compare repatriate

Origin of repair²

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

Synonym Study

See renew.

Example Sentences

Fibroblasts are specialized cells in connective tissues that play an important role in wound healing and tissue repair.

From Science Daily

Department of Agriculture operates natural disaster relief programs for eligible farmers that aim to help repair damage to farmlands, provide financial assistance or offer emergency loans, depending on their situation.

From Los Angeles Times

But he insisted the "difficult" decision was required to repair the public finances.

From BBC

It often takes a lawsuit and a ballot measure to force city leaders to prioritize safety and repairs.

From Los Angeles Times

By deepening our understanding of how stem cell machinery evolved, scientists may identify new ways to optimise stem cell therapies and improve cell reprogramming techniques for treating diseases or repairing damaged tissue.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• adjustment
• improvement
• overhaul
• reconstruction
• rehabilitation
• replacement