Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of repairing something: "mend" refers to the process of fixing something that is broken, damaged, or torn to restore it to working order.
   • A repaired area: "mend" can also refer to the specific place on an object, especially clothing, that has been repaired.

2. Verb:

   • To repair or fix: The primary meaning is to restore something broken, torn, or not working correctly by repairing it.
   • To heal or recover: Used to describe the process of getting better from an illness or injury.
   • To improve or correct: Used figuratively to mean improving a situation, behavior, or relationship.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The old quilt was full of colorful mends. (The old quilt had many repaired patches.)
  • He made a neat mend on the torn page. (He performed a neat repair on the torn page.)

• Verb (Transitive - with an object):

  • Can you mend this broken vase? (Can you repair this broken vase?)
  • She learned to mend her own clothes. (She learned to repair her own clothes.)

• Verb (Intransitive - without an object):

  • His broken arm is starting to mend. (His broken arm is beginning to heal.)
  • Relations between the two countries are slowly mending. (Relations between the two countries are slowly improving.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be on the mend": To be recovering or improving, especially after an illness or setback.

  • After a week in bed, she is finally on the mend. (She is finally recovering after a week in bed.)

• "to mend one's ways": To improve one's behavior or habits; to reform.

  • After the warning, he promised to mend his ways. (He promised to reform his behavior after the warning.)

• "Least said, soonest mended" (Idiom): A situation will improve more quickly if you avoid talking or arguing about it.

  • They decided not to discuss the argument further, believing least said, soonest mended. (They believed avoiding further discussion would help resolve the issue faster.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mender (n): A person who mends things.

  • He worked as a shoe mender. (He repaired shoes for a living.)

• Mending (n): The action of repairing things; items that need to be repaired.

  • She had a basket full of mending. (She had a basket full of clothes that needed repairs.)

Synonyms

• Repair: To fix something that is broken or damaged.
• Fix: To restore something to good condition.
• Heal: To become healthy again (for living things).
• Correct: To make right; to rectify (often for behavior or errors).

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Mend" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed directly or with prepositions like "mend with" [a specific material].)

Related Idioms

• "Mend fences": To try to improve a damaged relationship with someone; to reconcile.

  • After their disagreement, they met for coffee to mend fences. (They met to try to repair their relationship.)

• "Mend your pace" (Archaic/Literary): To walk faster; to hurry up.

  • "We must mend our pace if we are to arrive before dark," he said. (He said they needed to walk faster to arrive before dark.)

Noun

1. the act of putting something in working order again
2. sewing that repairs a worn or torn hole (especially in a garment)
   • her stockings had several mends

Verb

1. heal or recover
   • My broken leg is mending
2. restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
   • She repaired her TV set
   • Repair my shoes please