cure
B1Neutral to formal. The verb and noun are common in general, medical, and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To make someone healthy again after an illness.
To solve a problem or eliminate something harmful or undesirable; a successful treatment for an illness; the process of being restored to health; the preservation of food or animal hides by salting, drying, or smoking.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a verb, often implies a definitive and permanent solution to a medical or social problem. As a noun, can refer to a course of treatment, the end result (being cured), or a specific medicinal substance. The meaning of preservation (cured ham) is specialized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The noun form is used identically. The verb in the context of preserving food is equally common in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'cure' has positive connotations of finality and effectiveness in medical contexts. In social/problem contexts, it can sometimes sound overly simplistic.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects. The metaphorical extension 'cure for boredom' etc. is very common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cure sb of sthcure sthbe curedVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “kill or cure”
- “the cure is worse than the disease”
- “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in pharma/healthcare: 'The company is developing a cure for Alzheimer's.'
Academic
Common in medical/social sciences: 'The study evaluates a potential cure for the virus.' or 'There is no simple cure for poverty.'
Everyday
Very common for health and minor problems: 'This tea will cure your cold.' or 'A holiday cured my stress.'
Technical
Medical: specific treatments; Food science: preservation processes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Antibiotics can cure the infection.
- He was cured of his phobia through therapy.
- We need to cure the structural problems in the housing market.
American English
- The new drug cured the disease in trials.
- Time cured her of that bad habit.
- The meat is cured with salt and smoke.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb. 'Curatively' exists but is very rare/technical.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb. 'Curatively' exists but is very rare/technical.
adjective
British English
- He is now completely cure. (Note: 'cured' is standard, 'cure' as adj. is obsolete)
- Cured ham is a specialty.
American English
- The patient isn't fully cured yet. (adj. participle)
- She bought some cured salmon.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor gave me medicine to cure my cough.
- Is there a cure for a cold?
- Scientists are working hard to find a cure for cancer.
- A good night's sleep can cure many problems.
- The antibiotic failed to cure the resistant bacterial infection.
- The economic policy was touted as a cure for unemployment, but its effects were mixed.
- The surgeon general warned that there is no magic cure for the obesity epidemic, which requires multifaceted public health interventions.
- The novelist explored the idea that nostalgia is a cure for the disorienting pace of modern life.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CURE being SURE to make you healthy. C(ertain) + U(ndoubtedly) RE(stored).
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE DISEASES / SOLUTIONS ARE CURES (e.g., 'a cure for inflation').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'лекарство' (which is often 'medicine/drug'). 'Cure' implies successful treatment, not just the substance. 'Излечить' is closer to the verb 'to cure'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'cure' for ongoing/chronic management (e.g., 'cure diabetes' – often inaccurate). Confusing 'cured' (adj.) with 'healed' (for wounds).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'cure' used in a NON-MEDICAL, metaphorical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Treat' means to give medical care to manage a condition. 'Cure' means to completely and permanently eliminate the disease or problem.
Yes, it's common metaphorically: 'cure for boredom', 'cure inflation'. It implies a definitive solution.
Yes, the past participle is commonly used as an adjective: 'a cured patient', 'cured ham'.
Not directly from 'cure'. You would use 'healer', 'doctor', or 'therapist'. 'Curator' comes from a different Latin root meaning 'to care for'.
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