Topic: ILLNESS AND DISABILITY
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| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Origin: | amend |
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mend1
1
repair
[transitive]a) to repair a tear or hole in a piece of clothing : My father used to mend our shoes.
My father used to mend our shoes.b) British English to repair something that is broken or not working [= fix]: When are you going to mend that light in the hall? Tim can mend any broken toy. ➔ see usage note repair1
When are you going to mend that light in the hall?Tim can mend any broken toy.2 if a broken bone mends, it becomes whole again : His leg isn't mending as quickly as he'd expected.
become healthy
[intransitive] informalMIHis leg isn't mending as quickly as he'd expected.3 to improve the way you behave after behaving badly for a long time : If he doesn't mend his ways, he'll be asked to leave.
mend your ways
If he doesn't mend his ways, he'll be asked to leave.4 to try to become friendly with someone again after you have offended them or argued with them : Is it too late to mend fences with your ex-wife?
mend (your) fences
Is it too late to mend fences with your ex-wife?5 to end a quarrel or difficult situation by dealing with the problem that is causing it : I've tried to mend matters between us, but she's still very angry.
end a quarrel
[transitive]I've tried to mend matters between us, but she's still very angry.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
repair, fix, mendRepair is slightly more formal than fix or mend. You can repair anything that is broken or damaged, or has a hole in it • He repairs old furniture. • It cost too much to get the car repaired. • The roof needs repairing in a few places. In British English, fix and mend have the same meaning, but people more often use fix to talk about repairing a machine, vehicle etc and mend to talk about repairing holes in clothes, roads, roofs, and fences.In American English, mend is usually only used to talk about repairing things with holes in them, especially clothes and shoes. ➔ See also repair
WORD CHOICE: repair, fix, mendRepair is slightly more formal than fix or mend. You can repair anything that is broken or damaged, or has a hole in it • He repairs old furniture. • It cost too much to get the car repaired. • The roof needs repairing in a few places. In British English, fix and mend have the same meaning, but people more often use fix to talk about repairing a machine, vehicle etc and mend to talk about repairing holes in clothes, roads, roofs, and fences.In American English, mend is usually only used to talk about repairing things with holes in them, especially clothes and shoes. ➔ See also repair
