–noun

1.	physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.

2.	a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body: a back pain.

3.	mental or emotional suffering or torment: I am sorry my news causes you such pain.

4.	pains, a. laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care: Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly. b. the suffering of childbirth.

5.	Informal. an annoying or troublesome person or thing.

–verb (used with object)

6.	to cause physical pain to; hurt.

7.	to cause (someone) mental or emotional pain; distress: Your sarcasm pained me.

–verb (used without object)

8.	to have or give pain.

—Idioms

9.	feel no pain, Informal. to be intoxicated: After all that free beer, we were feeling no pain.

10.	on, upon, or under pain of, liable to the penalty of: on pain of death.

11.	pain in the ass, Slang: Vulgar. pain (def. 5).

12.	pain in the nec 5ae k, Informal. pain (def. 5).

–noun

1.	alleviation, ease, or deliverance through the removal of pain, distress, oppression, etc.

2.	a means or thing that relieves pain, distress, anxiety, etc.

3.	money, food, or other help given to those in poverty or need.

4.	something affording a pleasing change, as from monotony.

5.	release from a post of duty, as by the arrival of a substitute or replacement.

6.	the person or persons acting as replacement.

7.	the rescue of a besieged town d9d , fort, etc., from an attacking force.

8.	the freeing of a closed space, as a tank or boiler, from more than a desirable amount of pressure or vacuum.

9.	Feudal Law. a fine or composition which the heir of a feudal tenant paid to the lord for the privilege of succeeding to the estate.

10.	Literature. a. a distinct or abrupt change in mood, scene, action, etc., resulting in a reduction of intensity, as in a play or novel. b. comic relief.

—Idiom

11.	on relief, receiving financial assistance from a municipal, state, or federal government because of poverty or need.