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¹wear

verb \ˈwer\

: to use or have (something) as clothing : to have (a shirt, pants, etc.) over part of your body

: to use or have (something) on your body

: to grow or arrange (your hair) in a particular way

wore \ˈwȯr\ worn \ˈwȯrn\ wear·ing

Full Definition of WEAR

transitive verb

: to bear or have on the person <wore a coat>

a : to use habitually for clothing, adornment, or assistance <wears a size 10> <wear glasses>

b : to carry on the person <wear a sword>

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 wearing its research so lightly — Brad Leithauser>

c : to show or fly (a flag or colors) on a ship

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>

: to produce gradually by friction or attrition <wear a hole in the rug>

: to exhaust or lessen the strength of : weary, fatigue

: to cause (a ship) to go about with the stern presented to the wind

British : to accept or tolerate without complaint : put up with —usually used in negative constructions <your mates wouldn't wear it — Colin MacInnes>

: take on 3a

intransitive verb

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>

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>

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

: to become weak or ready to give way <my patience was wearing thin>

: to become trite, unconvincing, or out-of-date <an argument that quickly wore thin>

See wear defined for English-language learners

See wear defined for kids

Origin of WEAR

Middle English weren, from Old English werian; akin to Old Norse verja to clothe, invest, spend, Latin vestis clothing, garment, Greek hennynai to clothe

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WEAR

Synonyms: break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, drain, fag, fatigue, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, exhaust, wear out, weary

Rhymes with WEAR

air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, snare, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, weir, where, yare

²wear

noun

: the act of using something as clothing : the act of wearing something

: the act of using something

: clothing that is designed for a specified kind of person, occasion, or use

Full Definition of WEAR

: the act of wearing : the state of being worn : use <clothes for everyday wear>

a : clothing or an article of clothing usually of a particular kind; especially : clothing worn for a special occasion or popular during a specific period

b : fashion, vogue

: wearing quality : durability under use

: the result of wearing or use : diminution or impairment due to use <wear-resistant surface>

See wear defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of WEAR

15th century

Related to WEAR

Synonyms: wear and tear

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

Wear

geographical name \ˈwir\

Definition of WEAR

river 67 miles (108 kilometers) N England flowing into North Sea at Sunderland

WEAR Defined for Kids

¹wear

verb \ˈwer\

wore \ˈwȯr\worn \ˈwȯrn\wear·ing

Definition of WEAR for Kids

: to use as an article of clothing or decoration <He's wearing boots.> <She wears a ribbon in her hair.>

: to carry or use on the body <I am wearing perfume.>

: ¹show 1 <He always wears a smile.>

: to damage, waste, or produce by continued use <… I had gone … by a different way so as not to wear a trail. — Scott O'Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins>

: to make tired

: to last through long use <The cloth wears well.>

: to lessen or end with the passing of time <The day wore on.>

— wear·er noun

— wear out

: to make useless by long or hard use

: ¹tire 1