Definition of "ease" in English

noun

1. Lack of difficulty; the ability to do something easily.

   • He played the ukelele with ease.
   • The ease of lifting the weight, despite lack of skill, came from her pure strength.
   • Her young boy lifted a weight with ease too, as that one wasn't too heavy
   • The ease with which she passed all the exams surprised her.

2. Comfort, a state or quality lacking unpleasantness, particularly:

3. Relief, an end to discomfort, particularly:

4. (obsolete) A convenience; a luxury.

5. (obsolete) A relief; an easement.

verb

1. (transitive) To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.

   • He eased his conscience by confessing.

2. (transitive) To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain).

   • He loosened his shoe to ease the pain.
   • His words of comfort eased his friend's pain and distress.

3. (transitive) To give respite to (someone).

   • The provision of extra staff eased their workload.

4. (nautical, transitive) To loosen or slacken the tension on a line.

   • We eased the boom vang, then lowered the sail.

5. (transitive) To reduce the difficulty of (something).

   • We had to ease the entry requirements.

6. (transitive) To move (something) slowly and carefully.

   • He eased the cork from the bottle.

7. (intransitive) To lessen in intensity.

   • The pain eased overnight.

8. (intransitive) To proceed with little effort.

   • The car eased onto the motorway.

9. To reduce speed.

10. (transitive, slang, archaic) To take something from (a person), especially by robbery.