help (helps 3rd person present) (helping present participle) (helped past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you help someone, you make it easier for them to do something, for example by doing part of the work for them or by giving them advice or money.
He has helped to raise a lot of money... V to-inf/inf
You can of course help by giving them a donation directly... V
If you're not willing to help me, I'll find somebody who will. V n
Help is also a noun., n-uncount
(=assistance)
Thanks very much for your help..., Always ask the pharmacist for help...
2 verb If you say that something helps, you mean that it makes something easier to do or get, or that it improves a situation to some extent.
The right style of swimsuit can help to hide, minimise or emphasise what you want it to... V to-inf/inf
Building more motorways and by-passes will help the environment by reducing pollution and traffic jams in towns and cities... V n
Understanding these rare molecules will help chemists to find out what is achievable... V n to-inf/inf
I could cook your supper, though, if that would help. V
3 verb If you help someone go somewhere or move in some way, you give them support so that they can move more easily.
Martin helped Tanya over the rail... V n prep/adv
She helped her sit up in bed so she could hold her baby. V n inf/to-inf
4 n-sing If you say that someone or something has been a help or has been some help, you mean that they have helped you to solve a problem.
a N, also no det
The books were not much help.
5 n-uncount Help is action taken to rescue a person who is in danger. You shout `help!' when you are in danger in order to attract someone's attention so that they can come and rescue you.
He was screaming for help..., `Help!' I screamed, turning to run.
6 n-uncount In computing, help, or the help menu, is a file that gives you information and advice, for example about how to use a particular program. (COMPUTING)
If you get stuck, click on Help.
7 verb If you helpyourselfto something, you serve yourself or you take it for yourself. If someone tells you to helpyourself, they are telling you politely to serve yourself anything you want or to take anything you want.
There's bread on the table. Help yourself... V pron-refl
Just help yourself to leaflets. V pron-refl to n
8 verb If someone helpsthemselvesto something, they steal it.
INFORMAL Has somebody helped himself to some film star's diamonds? V pron-refl to n
10 If you can't help the way you feel or behave, you cannot control it or stop it happening. You can also say that you can't helpyourself.
can't help sth phrase V inflects, PHR -ing, PHR it, PHR pron-refl, PHR n
I can't help feeling sorry for the poor man...
11 If you say you can't help thinking something, you are expressing your opinion in an indirect way, often because you think it seems rude.
can't help phrase V inflects, PHR -ing, PHR but inf (vagueness)
I can't help feeling that this may just be another of her schemes...
12 If someone or something is of help, they make a situation easier or better.
be of help phrase V inflects Can I be of help to you? help out phrasal verb If you help someone out, you help them by doing some work for them or by lending them some money. I help out with the secretarial work... V P with n All these presents came to more money than I had, and my mother had to help me out... V n P He thought you'd been brought in from Toronto to help out the local police. V P n (not pron), Also V P
home help (home helps plural )A home help is a person who is employed to visit sick or old people at home and help with their cleaning or cooking.
(mainly BRIT) n-count
self-help
1 n-uncount Self-help consists of people providing support and help for each other in an informal way, rather than relying on the government, authorities, or other official organizations.
oft N n
She helped her Mum set up a self-help group for parents with over-weight children.
2 n-uncount Self-help consists of doing things yourself to try and solve your own problems without depending on other people.
...a society that encourages competitiveness and self-help among the very young., ...a self-help book.
