mend
[verb]
Synonyms:
- repair, darn, fix, patch, refit, renew, renovate, restore, retouch
- improve, ameliorate, amend, correct, emend, rectify, reform, revise
- heal, convalesce, get better, recover, recuperate
[noun]
Synonyms:
- repair, darn, patch, stitch
- on the mend: convalescent, getting better, improving, recovering, recuperating

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Related Words: condition, ready, service, refurbish, rejuvenate, renew, renovate, restore, correct, emend, rectify, redress, reform, heal

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English Thesaurus: repair, fix, mend, service, renovate, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. mend¹ /mend/ verb
[Date: 1100-1200; Origin: amend]

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 Synonym : 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 Synonym : 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 Synonym : repair:
I’ve tried to mend matters between us, but she’s still very angry.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. mend² noun [countable]

1. be on the mend to be getting better after an illness or after a difficult period Synonym : 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

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

mend
verb
DUBIOUS: Old cars are easier to mend.
GOOD: Old cars are easier to repair.

Usage Note:
mend (or repair ) a roof, fence, watch, radio, camera, puncture etc: 'Once you've mended the kettle, we can have a cup of tea.'
repair a vehicle or something that is wrong with a vehicle: 'How will you get to work while your car is being repaired?'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

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?
make/do a repair
I have done some repairs to the chair over the years.
carry out a repair
The school was closed for two months while repairs were carried out.
a minor repair (=a small one)
In the summer, we had to carry out some minor repairs to the roof.
a major repair (=a big one)
The car didn't need to have any major repairs done.
necessary/essential repairs
The Council has agreed to carry out essential repairs to the fencing.
urgent repairs
More than £40,000 is needed for urgent repairs to the tower.
extensive repairs (=a lot of repair work)
The boat needed extensive repairs.
structural repairs (=to the walls or roof of a building or to the main parts of a bridge or other structure)
A survey showed that the bridge needed significant structural repairs.
electrical repairs
Never attempt electrical repairs without unplugging the appliance.
running repairs (=small things that you do to something to keep it working properly)
Farm workers made their own tools and carried out their own running repairs.
be under repair (=be being repaired)
We were staying at a hotel while our house was under repair.
be in need of repair
Many of the cottages were badly in need of repair.
be beyond repair/be damaged beyond repair (=be so badly damaged that it cannot be repaired)
Unfortunately the engine is beyond repair.
repair work
The council has been responsible for appointing contractors to carry out this repair work.
a repair job
It looked like a simple repair job to me.
a repair shop/yard (=a place where things of a particular kind are repaired)
He works in a shoe repair shop.
a repair kit (=a set of of tools or equipment that you use to repair something)
a bicycle repair kit

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

mend
mend
See: on the mend

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲