student asking question

What's the main difference between "cure" and "heal"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

To "cure" means to manage or eliminate a disease or illness related to one's body or mind. To "heal" means to make whole that which has been broken. Thus, "cure" is mostly used in the medical context, whereas "heal" can be used in more situations. In this video, the "wounds" that the speaker is referring to may be emotional wounds, which is why "heal" has been used here instead of "cure." Ex: Melody healed her broken heart after breaking up by traveling alone. Ex: The doctors were able to cure Peter's illness after six months of treatment.

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