n.
Pronunciation: ' fret
Function: verb
Inflected Form: fret · ted ; fret · ting
Etymology: Middle English, to devour, fret, from Old English fretan to devour; akin to Old High German frezzan to devour, ezzan to eat ― more at EAT
Date: 12th century
transitive verb
1 a : to eat or gnaw into : CORRODE also : FRAY b : RUB , CHAFE c : to make by wearing away a substance <the stream fretted a channel>
2 : to cause to suffer emotional strain : VEX
3 : to pass (as time) in fretting
4 : AGITATE , RIPPLE
intransitive verb
1 a : to eat into something b : to affect something as if by gnawing or biting : GRATE
2 a : WEAR , CORRODE b : CHAFE c : FRAY 1
3 a : to become vexed or worried b of running water : to become agitated