1. (

• aid ,
• assist ,
• assistance ,
• help

) the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "he gave me an assist with the housework"; "could not walk without assistance"; "rescue party went to their aid"; "offered his help in unloading" ;

2. (

• assistant ,
• helper ,
• help ,
• supporter ,

) a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "my invaluable assistant"; "they hired additional help to finish the work" ;

3. (

• aid ,
• assistance ,
• help

) a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do; "visual aids in teaching"; "his job was to give technical assistance over the phone" ;

4. (

• avail ,
• help ,
• service

) a means of serving; "of no avail"; "there's no help for it" ;

1. (

• help ,
• assist ,
• aid

) give help or assistance; be of service; "Everyone helped out during the earthquake"; "Can you help me carry this table?"; "She never helps around the house" ;

2. (

• help ,
• aid

) improve the condition of; "These pills will help the patient" ;

3. (

• help ,
• facilitate

) be of use; "This will help to prevent accidents" ;

4. (

• help_oneself ,
• help ,

) abstain from doing; always used with a negative; "I can't help myself;

5. (

• serve ,
• help

) help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself" ;

6. (

• help ,

) contribute to the furtherance of; "This money will help the development of literacy in developing countries" ;

7. (

• avail ,
• help ,

) take or use; "She helped herself to some of the office supplies" ;

8. (

• help ,

) improve; change for the better; "New slipcovers will help the old living room furniture" ;