cure
ky
Cure (noun) means a treatment or remedy that restores health or solves a problem. Example: “Rest and plenty of fluids are the only cure for a common cold.”
noun
1
A treatment or remedy that restores health or solves a problem.
"Rest and plenty of fluids are the only cure for a common cold."
"Scientists are racing to find a cure for the disease."
"There's no quick cure for heartbreak."
verb
1
To restore someone to health, or to fix a problem completely.
"A short course of tablets cured the rash completely."
"The new medication cured her infection within days."
"Time cured his fear of public speaking."
2
To preserve food, typically meat or fish, by salting, smoking, or drying.
"The butcher cures bacon in salt for a week before hanging it to dry."
"Fish that is cured this way keeps for months without a fridge."
"The ham is cured for several weeks before it's ready to eat."
How to use cure
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo fix or heal something completely, or (for food) to preserve it using salt, smoke, or drying.
Common pairings
cure a disease
cured meat
cure for cancer
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Word forms
- Plural
- cures
- Third person singular
- cures
- Past tense
- cured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Rest and plenty of fluids are the only _____ for a common cold.
Etymology
From Old French cure, "care, healing," from Latin cura, "care, medical attention" — the same root behind "curator" and "manicure."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for cure
See all rhymes for cure →Frequently asked questions
What does “cure” mean?
The word “cure” means a treatment or remedy that restores health or solves a problem. In plain terms, to fix or heal something completely, or (for food) to preserve it using salt, smoke, or drying.
How do you pronounce “cure”?
“Cure” is pronounced ky (/kjʊɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cure” in a sentence?
Here is “cure” used in a sentence: “Scientists are racing to find a cure for the disease.”
What part of speech is “cure”?
Depending on how it is used, “cure” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cure” come from?
The word “cure” comes from Latin. From Old French cure, "care, healing," from Latin cura, "care, medical attention" — the same root behind "curator" and "manicure.".
Is “cure” a common word?
“Cure” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “cure” have?
“Cure” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a treatment or remedy that restores health or solves a problem.
What is the difference between "cure" and "treatment"?
A "cure" ends a disease or problem completely and restores health, while a "treatment" is care given to manage or relieve a condition, which may or may not cure it. A chronic illness might have effective treatments but no cure.
What is the difference between "cure" and "heal"?
"Cure" usually means to eliminate a specific disease or fix a problem, often through medicine or a remedy. "Heal" refers to the natural process of becoming healthy again, especially of wounds, and can also apply to emotional recovery.
What is the difference between "cure" and "remedy"?
A "cure" removes an illness or problem entirely, while a "remedy" is any medicine or measure used to treat or relieve it, without a guarantee of a complete fix. Every cure is a remedy, but not every remedy is a cure.
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