ease

ease ease [iːz] verb

1. [intransitive, transitive] if limits, rules, restrictions etc are eased, or someone eases them, they become less strict:

• India is easing rules for joint ventures with foreign concerns.

2. [intransitive, transitive] if interest rates ease, or if a government or central bank eases them, they fall slightly:

• The central bank is prepared to ease interest rates further.

3. [intransitive] if prices on a financial market ease, they fall slightly:

• Stock prices eased in a slow trading session.

• Shares in Tokyo Gas eased 2 to 565, and Marubeni lost 5 to 660.

— easing noun [countable, uncountable] :

• the easing of restrictions on non-refundable fares

• Profit-taking in the oil sector led to an easing of prices.

• Rates are now around 7%, following a series of easings by the Reserve Bank of Australia.

ease off also ease up phrasal verb [intransitive]

to become less strong or less active:

• The demand for personal pensions has eased off slightly.

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Ⅰ.

ease UK US /iːz/ verb

► [I or T] to make something less severe, difficult, etc. or to become less severe, difficult, etc.: ease the burden/pressure/problem »

He made proposals to ease the tax burden on lower earners.

»

The rise in interest rates may prompt the government to ease fiscal policy again.

»

the tension/pressure/crisis eases

► [I] FINANCE to become lower in value: a rate/price eases »

Interbank interest rates in the domestic money market eased in the week to Nov. 15.

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the dollar/market eases

► [I or T] to move gradually to a different level, or to make something do this: ease back/down/upwards »

Freight rates eased upwards.

Ⅱ.

ease UK US /iːz/ noun [U]

► the fact that something does not involve difficulty or effort: »

We rated the products for ease of use, quality, and price.

»

Actuarial analysts can figure pension fund liabilities with ease.