remedy

I. rem‧e‧dy¹ /ˈremədi, ˈremɪdi/ BrE AmE noun (plural remedies) [countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: remedie, from Latin remedium, from mederi 'to heal']
1. a way of dealing with a problem or making a bad situation better SYN solution:
The problems in our schools do not have a simple remedy.
remedy for
The program is one remedy for discrimination.
2. a medicine to cure an illness or pain that is not very serious SYN cure
cold/cough remedy
remedy for
a remedy for colds
herbal/natural remedy
a natural remedy that helps insomnia
a home remedy (=one that you make at home) for sore throats
The herb is used as a folk remedy (=a traditional medicine, rather than one a doctor gives you) for a baby’s teething pains.
3. beyond/without remedy formal if a situation is beyond remedy, nothing can be done to make it better:
She felt as if her marital problems were beyond remedy.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + remedy
▪ a cold/cough/flu remedy Most cold remedies have little effect.
▪ a herbal remedy He brought with him a bottle of his own herbal remedy for hayfever.
▪ a natural remedy She began to look into alternative methods of treatment, such as natural remedies and hypnotherapy.
▪ a home remedy (=one that you make at home) Home remedies for colds include honey and lemon.
▪ a traditional/folk remedy Fish oil has been used as a folk remedy since the eighteenth century.
■ verbs
▪ take a remedy Have you tried taking herbal remedies?
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ cure a medicine or medical treatment that makes an illness go away: The scientists are trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.
▪ remedy a way to treat a health problem, especially a small problem such as a cold, using plants or other natural methods: Rinsing with salt water is a good home remedy for a sore throat. | The store sells herbal remedies.
▪ antidote a medicine that will stop the effects of a poison or dangerous drug: There is no known antidote to a bite from this snake.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

remedy

rem·edy [remedy remedies remedied remedying] noun, verb [ˈremədi] [ˈremədi]

noun (pl. rem·edies)
1. a way of dealing with or improving an unpleasant or difficult situation
Syn: solution
• ~ (for sth) There is no simple remedy for unemployment.

• ~ (to sth) There are a number of possible remedies to this problem.

2. a treatment or medicine to cure a disease or reduce pain that is not very serious
• a herbal remedy

• ~ for sth an excellent home remedy for sore throats

3. ~ (against sth) (law) a way of dealing with a problem, using the processes of the law
Syn: redress
• Holding copyright provides the only legal remedy against unauthorized copying.
• What's my remedy in law in this case?
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French remedie, from Latin remedium, from re- ‘back’ (also expressing intensive force) + mederi ‘heal’.
Example Bank:
• Ginger is a popular remedy for morning sickness.
• He took a herbal remedy for his hay fever.
• One dose of the remedy is sufficient.
• She tried various remedies, but none of them worked.
• The Act created rights and remedies for consumers.
• The agreement states that he has a remedy against the subcontractor.
• The player insists that he merely took a cold remedy and not a banned substance.
• The remedies are all prepared from wild flowers.
• The remedy was given in different strengths to a group of volunteers.
• There's no easy remedy for unemployment.
• They advised him to exhaust all other remedies before applying to court.
• They will have to seek a judicial remedy for breach of contract.
• They're hoping to find a remedy for the condition.
• When the reservoir becomes blocked, the only remedy lies in cleaning the entire system.
• You have a remedy in civil law.
• Your best remedy is to go to the small claims court.
• remedies afforded to creditors by a bankruptcy order
• remedies for breach of contract
• I prefer to use herbal remedies when I have a cold.