6. Select the meaning of the word alleviate in the sentence: "To alleviate his pain, the nurse gave the patient a PRN medication."
Answer: D
To alleviate means to reduce pain.
Alleviate refers to the act of making something less severe or intense. In this context, the nurse's action of giving the patient medication serves to lessen the pain experienced.
A) Pinpoint
Pinpoint means to identify something precisely or locate it accurately. This definition does not align with the meaning of alleviate, which is focused on reducing severity rather than identifying a problem.
B) Relocate
Relocate refers to moving something from one place to another. This choice is unrelated to the concept of alleviating pain, as it does not involve any reduction or easing of discomfort.
C) Eradicate
Eradicate means to completely eliminate or remove something. While this term suggests a stronger action than alleviate, which only involves a reduction rather than complete removal, thus making it an incorrect interpretation in this context.
D) Reduce
Reduce directly corresponds to the meaning of alleviate, as both terms imply making something less severe or intense. In the context of the sentence, the nurse is indeed taking action to lessen the patient's pain, confirming this option as the correct answer.
Conclusion
The correct answer, reduce, accurately reflects the meaning of alleviate in the given context. All other options either misinterpret the action conveyed in the sentence or are unrelated to the concept of easing pain. Therefore, reduce is the definitive choice that aligns with the intended meaning.