Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - rid

~1 adj 1 get rid of a) to throw away something you do not want or use any more  (It's time we got rid of all these old toys.) b) to take action so that you no longer have something unpleasant that you do not want  (I can't get rid of this cough. | He opened the windows to get rid of the smell of stale tobacco.) c) to make someone leave because you do not like them or because they are causing problems  (I had to get rid of my assistant because he was habitually late.) 2 be rid of to have got rid of something or someone so that they are not there to worry or annoy you  (The clerical part of his job was tedious, and he was glad to be rid of it. | be well rid of especially spoken (=be lucky to be rid of))  (You're well rid of her, she's nothing but trouble.) ~2 v past tense rid or ridded past participle rid present participle ridding rid sb/sth of sth v 1 to remove something or someone that is bad or harmful from a place, organization etc  (A huge vaccination program rid the world of smallpox.) 2 rid yourself of sth to take action so that you do not have a feeling, thought, or problem that was causing you trouble any more  (She's trying to rid herself of a dependence on drugs.)