Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - mend

~1 v 1 »REPAIR« a) to repair a tear or hole in a piece of clothing  (My father used to mend our shoes.) b) BrE to repair something that is broken or not working; fix1 (1)  (When are you going to mend that light in the hall?) 2 »BECOME HEALTHY« a) informal if a broken bone mends, it becomes whole again b) old-fashioned to become healthy again after being ill 3 mend your ways to improve the way you behave after behaving badly for a long time 4 mend (your) fences to talk to someone you have offended or argued with, and try to persuade them to be friendly with you again 5 »END A QUARREL« to end a quarrel or difficult situation by dealing with the problem that is causing it  (I've tried to mend matters between us, but she's still very angry.) - mender n BrE ~2 n 1 be on the mend to be getting better after an illness or after a difficult period  (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