n.
Pronunciation: ' wer
Function: verb
Inflected Form: wore \ ' wo ̇ r \ ; worn \ ' wo ̇ rn \ ; wear · ing
Etymology: Middle English weren, from Old English werian; akin to Old Norse verja to clothe, invest, spend, Latin vestis clothing, garment, Greek hennynai to clothe
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to bear or have on the person < wore a coat>
2 a : to use habitually for clothing, adornment, or assistance < wear s a size 10> < wear glasses> b : to carry on the person < wear a sword>
3 a : to hold the rank or dignity or position signified by (an ornament) < wear the royal crown> b : EXHIBIT , PRESENT < wore a happy smile> <commend the book for wear ing its research so lightly ― Brad Leithauser> c : to show or fly (a flag or colors) on a ship
4 a : to cause to deteriorate by use b : to impair or diminish by use or attrition : consume or waste gradually <letters on the stone worn away by weathering>
5 : to produce gradually by friction or attrition < wear a hole in the rug>
6 : to exhaust or lessen the strength of : WEARY , FATIGUE
7 : to cause (a ship) to go about with the stern presented to the wind
8 British : to accept or tolerate without complaint : put up with ― usually used in negative constructions <your mates wouldn't wear it ― Colin MacInnes>
9 : TAKE ON 3A
intransitive verb
1 a : to endure use : last under use or the passage of time <material that will wear for years> b : to retain quality or vitality <the classics wear well>
2 a : to diminish or decay through use <the heels of his shoes began to wear > b : to diminish or fail with the passage of time <the effect of the drug wore off> <the day wore on> c : to grow or become by attrition or use <the blade wore dull>
3 of a ship : to change to an opposite tack by turning the stern to the wind ― compare TACK
– wear · er noun
– wear on : IRRITATE , FRAY <the constant beeping wore on my nerves>
– wear the trousers or wear the pants : to have the controlling authority in a household
– wear thin
1 : to become weak or ready to give way <my patience was wearing thin >
2 : to become trite, unconvincing, or out-of-date <an argument that quickly wore thin >