fret Hear it!

fret¹ Definition

fret (fret)

transitive verb fret′·ted, fret′·ting

  1. to eat away; gnaw
  2. to wear away by gnawing, rubbing, corroding, etc.
  3. to make or form by wearing away
  4. to make rough; disturb wind fretting the water
  5. to irritate; vex; annoy; worry

Etymology: ME freten < OE fretan, to devour, akin to Ger fressen, Goth fra-itan < Gmc prefix *fra- (OE for-: see for-) + *itan, to eat (OE etan: see eat)

intransitive verb

  1. to gnaw (into, on, or upon)
  2. to become eaten, corroded, worn, frayed, etc.
  3. to become rough or disturbed
  4. to be irritated, annoyed, or querulous; worry

noun

  1. a wearing away
  2. a worn place
  3. irritation; worry

fret¹ Related Forms

fret′·ter noun

fret² Definition

fret (fret)

noun

  1. an ornamental net or network, esp. one formerly worn by women as a headdress
  2. an ornamental pattern of small, straight bars intersecting or joining one another, usually at right angles, to form a regular design, as for a border or in an architectural relief

Etymology: ME frette, prob. merging of OFr frete (Fr frette), interlaced work, with OE frætwa, ornament (> ? OFr frete)

transitive verb fret′·ted, fret′·ting

to ornament with a fret

fret³ Definition

fret (fret)

noun

any of several narrow, lateral ridges fixed across the fingerboard of a banjo, guitar, mandolin, etc. to regulate the fingering

Etymology: OFr frette, a band, ferrule

transitive verb fret′·ted, fret′·ting

  1. to furnish with frets
  2. to press the strings (of a banjo, etc.) against the frets

fret³ Related Forms

fret′·less adjective

fret Synonyms

fret

v.

  1. To cause annoyance

    disturb, agitate, vex, irritate; see bother 2, 3.

  2. To suffer annoyance

    anguish, chafe, fuss; see brood 2, worry 2.

  3. To rub painfully

    chafe, gall, gnaw, corrode; see rub 1.

fret Usage Examples

Object

  • fatigue: With high loads or prolonged operation, fretting may lead on to crack initiation and to fretting fatigue.
  • string: One is to fret the bottom strings as well as the melody course, to play chords ( eg.
  • instrument: The problem is, they're murder to implement in any stopped or fretted instrument.
  • stuff: The most special day of your life, so relax, enjoy, and don't fret the small stuff.

Preposition: on

string: To get you started, the opening riff is just 9th to 7th fret on the low E string.

Adjective modifier

  • 12th: You move the saddles until the note at the 12th fret and the 12th fret harmonic are identical.
  • 5th: Turn the machine head until the 5th string sounds like the 6th string with the 5th fret down.
  • 7th: To get you started, the opening riff is just 9th to 7th fret on the low E string.
  • 2nd: You also need to use a full strum with the 3rd string on the 2nd fret sometime.
  • 4th: Then pluck at the 4th fret and you will get a note that still relates but in a more distant way.
  • fifth: Single pipes are usually set at " A " with a frequency of 440Hz which matches the fifth fret of the first string.

Modifies a noun

board: Many slide players don't even look at the fret board, they just allow their ears to guide them.

Modifying Another Word

  • tho: Don't fret just yet tho, Merchandise are not over and done!
  • about: Let him speak to you, don't fret about where it all fits.
  • n't: Do n't fret, you'll probably come back to life.
  • much: And don't fret too much; there are in the order of 80,000 divers in the country.

Followed by an intransitive particle

over: Nowadays, I spend my time fretting over whether I am going to be able to afford my heating bill.

Used with why or when

when: These modules have a charcoal gray or bronze color and look like low-E coating or fretting when used on vision glass.

Preposition: of

string: Single pipes are usually set at " A " with a frequency of 440Hz which matches the fifth fret of the first string.

Noun used with modifier

sea: Unfortunately the scenery is somewhat limited by a sea fret.