heal

[heel] /hil/
verb (used with object)
1.
to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment.
2.
to bring to an end or conclusion, as conflicts between people or groups, usually with the strong implication of restoring former amity; settle; reconcile:
They tried to heal the rift between them but were unsuccessful.
3.
to free from evil; cleanse; purify:
to heal the soul.
verb (used without object)
4.
to effect a cure.
5.
(of a wound, broken bone, etc.) to become whole or sound; mend; get well (often followed by up or over).
Origin
before 900; Middle English helen, Old English hǣlan (cognate with Dutch helen, German heilen, Old Norse heila, Gothic hailjan), derivative of hāl hale1, whole
Related forms
healable, adjective
half-healed, adjective
preheal, verb (used with object)
unhealable, adjective
unhealed, adjective
well-healed, adjective
Can be confused
heal, heel, he'll.
Synonyms
1. See cure. 2. compose, soothe. 3. purge, disinfect.
Antonyms
1, 2. irritate. 3. soil, infect.
Examples from the web for heal
  • Now she must use them to heal, recover, and carry forward to the new life she desires.
  • By implication, a nurse is supposed to cure everything, to heal all wounds.
  • Autonomic systems should also be able to heal, to recover from damage by some means other than a suicidal crash.
  • Despite one misconception, there is no evidence that a bone that breaks will heal to be stronger than it was before.
  • It's taken that long for the deep wounds of rejection to heal.
  • The difference is that these materials will heal in minutes rather than months.
  • Hunting for a way to let the liver heal itself without causing more harm than good.
  • She had to be put on medication to heal her insides.
  • The top skin had the gel applied and shows less scarring than the bottom skin, which was allowed to heal naturally.
  • Carbuncles usually must drain before they will heal.
British Dictionary definitions for heal

heal

/hiːl/
verb
1.
to restore or be restored to health
2.
(intransitive; often foll by over or up) (of a wound, burn, etc) to repair by natural processes, as by scar formation
3.
(transitive)
  1. to treat (a wound, etc) by assisting in its natural repair
  2. to cure (a disease or disorder)
4.
to restore or be restored to friendly relations, harmony, etc
Derived Forms
healable, adjective
healer, noun
healing, noun, adjective
Word Origin
Old English hælan; related to Old Norse heila, Gothic hailjan, Old High German heilen; see hale1, whole
Word Origin and History for heal
v.

Old English hælan "cure; save; make whole, sound and well," from Proto-Germanic *hailjan (cf. Old Saxon helian, Old Norse heila, Old Frisian hela, Dutch helen, German heilen, Gothic ga-hailjan "to heal, cure"), literally "to make whole" (see health). Related: Healed; healing.

heal in Medicine

heal (hēl)
v. healed, heal·ing, heals

  1. To restore to health or soundness; cure.

  2. To become well; return to sound health.