mend

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Illness & disability

mend1 /mend/ ●●○ verb  1  repair 修理 [transitive] a) REPAIRto repair a tear or hole in a piece of clothing 修补，缝补〔布料上的裂口或破洞〕 My father used to mend our shoes. 我父亲过去常为我们修补鞋子。 b) British EnglishREPAIR to repair something that is broken or not working 修理〔破损或有毛病的物件〕 SYN fix When are you going to mend that light in the hall? 你打算什么时候修一修门厅里的那盏灯？ Tim can mend any broken toy. 什么玩具坏了蒂姆都能修。► see thesaurus at repair2  become healthy 变得健康 [intransitive] informalMIRECOVER/GET BETTER if a broken bone mends, it becomes whole again 〔断骨〕愈合 SYN heal His leg isn’t mending as quickly as he’d expected. 他的腿愈合得不像他预想的那样快。3  mend your ways IMPROVEBEHAVEto improve the way you behave after behaving badly for a long time 改正不良行为 If he doesn’t mend his ways, he’ll be asked to leave. 如果他不好好改改，会让他走人的。4  mend (your) fences TALK TO somebodyto try to become friendly with someone again after you have offended them or argued with them 消释前嫌，重修旧好 Is it too late to mend fences with your ex-wife? 现在和你的前妻重修旧好来不及了吗？5  end a quarrel 结束争吵 [transitive]DEAL WITH to end a quarrel or difficult situation by dealing with the problem that is causing it 结束〔争吵〕，解决〔问题〕 SYN repair I’ve tried to mend matters between us, but she’s still very angry. 我已经尽力去解决我们之间的问题，但她仍然很生气。→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

mend• I need to get my sleeve mended.• Walters was off the team for a year while his ribs mended.• It can cope with a cold, fight off a serious illness and with time, even mend a broken bone.• Their clothes were mended as well as their bruises, their tempers and their hopes.• Yes, she agreed with Louise, quarrels could be mended by talking.• It used to stick and Emyr has mended it, but Hywel still kicks it.• I had so little to do I spent all my time fussing over my hair and mending my clothes.• They travelled in open formation, picking their way around obstacles and frequently having to stop to mend punctures.• A pin was inserted to mend the fracture in his foot.• I called a service engineer in to mend the lift.• The children are taught to mend their own clothes.• I can afford new ones, but find myself spending a couple of quiet hours mending them.• Mending this problem will take more than money.• Moses Mossop was regularly at work making and mending wooden barrels.mend2 noun [countable]  1  be on the mend RECOVER/GET BETTERto be getting better after an illness or after a difficult period 〔病后或困难时期过后〕正在好转 SYN be recovering He’s had flu, but he’s on the mend. 他得了流感，但正在恢复。 signs that the economy is on the mend 经济复苏的迹象2. REPAIRa place in something where it has been repaired 修补过的地方

Examples from the Corpus

mend• Every length of rope had mends and splices.• They are still unrepresented in great cities such as Manchester and Liverpool, but they seem at last to be on the mend.• Robby Thompson, on the mend from shoulder and back injuries last season, continued to have a tremendous spring.From Longman Business Dictionarymendmend /mend/ noun on the mend improving again after being weakThe economy is now on the mend.Origin mend1 (1100-1200) amend

mend1 verbmend2 nounChinese  

a Corpus hole to a repair of in or piece Business tear

mend

I

mend¹ /mend/ verb
1.  REPAIR  [transitive]
  a. to repair a tear or hole in a piece of clothing:
    My father used to mend our shoes.
  b. British English to repair something that is broken or not working
   SYN  fix:
    When are you going to mend that light in the hall?
    Tim can mend any broken toy.
2.  BECOME HEALTHY  [intransitive] informal if a broken bone mends, it becomes whole again
   SYN  heal:
    His leg isn’t mending as quickly as he’d expected.
3. mend your ways 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.
4. mend (your) fences 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?
5.  END A QUARREL  [transitive] to end a quarrel or difficult situation by dealing with the problem that is causing it
   SYN  repair:
    I’ve tried to mend matters between us, but she’s still very angry.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ repair to do some work on something that is damaged or not working properly, so that it is in good condition again: The builders are coming to repair the roof. | Have you had the washing machine repaired yet?
   ▪ fix especially American English to repair something: I’m taking the car in to get it fixed. | The chain on the bike needs fixing.
   ▪ mend especially British English to repair something that is damaged, torn, or not working: I’ve found someone who’ll mend the fence. | Can you mend this sweater for me? | Fishermen sat mending their nets in the sunshine.
   ▪ service to check a vehicle or machine and repair it if necessary, especially regularly: You should have your car serviced every six months. | When was the last time we had the gas boiler serviced?
   ▪ renovate to repair an old building so that it looks in good condition again: They bought an old house and renovated it themselves.
   ▪ restore to repair something old and valuable, especially a building, piece of furniture, painting etc, so that it looks the same as it did originally: Many paintings were damaged in the fire but have now been restored. | The hotel was restored to its original Victorian splendour in 1984.
   ▪ do up British English informal, fix up American English informal to repair an old building or vehicle, so that it looks in good condition again: He does up old cars and sells them. | A builder bought the house and fixed it up.
   ▪ patch something up to quickly repair something that has a hole in it, by putting a piece of material on it, especially temporarily: They patched up the wall with bits of cement.
   ▪ darn to repair holes in clothes: Are you any good at darning socks?

II

mend² noun [countable]
1. be on the mend to be getting better after an illness or after a difficult period
   SYN  be recovering:
    He’s had flu, but he’s on the mend.
    signs that the economy is on the mend
2. a place in something where it has been repaired