1. v. & n.
--v. (past wore; past part. worn)
1. tr. have on one's person as clothing or an ornament etc. (is wearing shorts; wears earrings).
2 tr. be dressed habitually in (wears green).
3 tr. exhibit or present (a facial expression or appearance) (wore a frown; the day wore a different aspect).
4 tr. Brit. colloq. (usu. with neg.) tolerate, accept (they won't wear that excuse).
5 (often foll. by away) a tr. injure the surface of, or partly obliterate or alter, by rubbing, stress, or use. b intr. undergo such injury or change.
6 tr. & intr. (foll. by off, away) rub or be rubbed off.
7 tr. make (a hole etc.) by constant rubbing or dripping etc.
8 tr. & intr. (often foll. by out) exhaust, tire or be tired.
9 tr. (foll. by down) overcome by persistence.
10 intr. a remain for a specified time in working order or a presentable state; last long. b (foll. by well, badly, etc.) endure continued use or life.
11 a intr. (of time) pass, esp. tediously. b tr. pass (time) gradually away.
12 tr. (of a ship) fly (a flag).
--n.
1. the act of wearing or the state of being worn (suitable for informal wear).
2 things worn; fashionable or suitable clothing (sportswear; footwear).
3 (in full wear and tear) damage sustained from continuous use.
4 the capacity for resisting wear and tear (still a great deal of wear left in it).
Phrases and idioms:
in wear being regularly worn. wear one's heart on one's sleeve see HEART. wear off lose effectiveness or intensity. wear out
1. use or be used until no longer usable.
2 tire or be tired out. wear thin (of patience, excuses, etc.) begin to fail. wear the trousers see TROUSERS. wear (or wear one's years) well colloq. remain young-looking.
Derivatives:
wearable adj. wearability n. wearer n. wearingly adv.
Etymology: OE werian f. Gmc 2. v. (past and past part. wore)
1. tr. bring (a ship) about by turning its head away from the wind.
2 intr. (of a ship) come about in this way (cf. TACK(1) v. 4).
Etymology: 17th c.: orig. unkn.