[wear] vb wore ; worn ; wear.ing [ME weren, fr. OE werian; akin to ON verja to clothe, invest, spend, L vestis clothing, garment, Gk hennynai to clothe] vt (bef. 12c) 1: to bear or have on the person "wore a coat"
2. a: to use habitually for clothing, adornment, or assistance "~s a toupee" "~ glasses" b: to carry on the person "~ a sword" 3 a: to hold the rank or dignity or position signified by (an ornament) "~ the royal crown" b: exhibit, present "wore a happy smile" "commend the book for ~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 "~ 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. Brit: to accept or tolerate without complaint: put up with--usu. used in negative constructions "your mates wouldn't ~ it --Colin MacInnes" ~ vi 1 a: to endure use: last under use or the passage of time "material that will ~ for years" b: to retain quality or vitality
2. a: to diminish or decay through use "the heels of his shoes began to ~" 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 3 of a ship: to change to an opposite tack by turning the stern to the wind--compare tack -- wear.er n -- wear on : irritate, fray -- 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2: to become trite, unconvincing, or out-of-date "an argument that quickly wore thin"
[2]wear n (15c) 1: the act of wearing: the state of being worn: use "clothes for everyday ~"
2. a: clothing or an article of clothing usu. of a particular kind; esp: clothing worn for a special occasion or popular during a specific period b: fashion, vogue
3: wearing quality: durability under use
4: the result of wearing or use: diminution or impairment due to use "wear-resistant surface"