/ weə(r); NAmE wer/ verb , noun
■ verb
( wore / wɔː(r); NAmE / worn / wɔːn; NAmE wɔːrn/)
CLOTHING / DECORATION
1.
[ vn ] to have sth on your body as a piece of clothing, a decoration, etc. :
She was wearing a new coat.
Do I have to wear a tie?
Was she wearing a seat belt?
He wore glasses.
All delegates must wear a badge.
She always wears black (= black clothes) .
HAIR
2.
to have your hair in a particular style; to have a beard or moustache :
[ vn - adj ]
She wears her hair long.
[ vn ]
to wear a beard
EXPRESSION ON FACE
3.
[ vn ] to have a particular expression on your face :
He wore a puzzled look on his face.
His face wore a puzzled look.
DAMAGE WITH USE
4.
to become, or make sth become thinner, smoother or weaker through continuous use or rubbing :
[ v ]
The carpets are starting to wear.
[ v - adj ]
The sheets have worn thin.
[ vn - adj ]
The stones have been worn smooth by the constant flow of water.
5.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to make a hole, path, etc. in sth by continuous use or rubbing :
I've worn holes in all my socks.
STAY IN GOOD CONDITION
6.
[ v ] wear well to stay in good condition after being used for a long time :
That carpet is wearing well, isn't it?
( figurative , humorous )
You're wearing well—only a few grey hairs!
ACCEPT / ALLOW
7.
[ vn ] (usually used in questions and negative sentences) ( BrE , informal ) to accept or allow sth, especially sth that you do not approve of
•
IDIOMS
- wear your heart on your sleeve
- wear thin
- wear the trousers
—more at cap noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- wear away | wear sth away
- wear down | wear sth down
- wear sb/sth down
- wear off
- wear on
- wear out | wear sth out
- wear yourself / sb out
■ noun
[ U ]
CLOTHING
1.
(usually in compounds) used especially in shops / stores to describe clothes for a particular purpose or occasion :
casual / evening, etc. wear
children's / ladies' wear
—see also footwear , menswear , sportswear , underwear
2.
the fact of wearing sth :
casual clothes for everyday wear
These woollen suits are not designed for wear in hot climates.
➡ note at clothes
USE
3.
the amount or type of use that sth has over a period of time :
You should get years of wear out of that carpet.
DAMAGE
4.
the damage or loss of quality that is caused when sth has been used a lot :
His shoes were beginning to show signs of wear.
•
IDIOMS
- wear and tear
—more at worse noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English werian , of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin vestis clothing.