use

Use means to handle or consume something. (verb)

An example of use is to write with a pencil.

Use is the acting of employing or utilizing something or the intended purpose of something. (noun)

See use in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb used , using

to put or bring into action or service; employ for or apply to a given purpose
to practice; exercise: to use one's judgment
to act or behave toward; treat: to use a friend badly
to consume, expend, or exhaust by use: often with up: to use up one's energy
1. to smoke or chew (tobacco)
2. to take or consume habitually: to use drugs
to make familiar; accustom: used in the passive with to: to become used to certain ways
to exploit or treat (a person) as a means to some selfish end

intransitive verb

to be accustomed; be wont: now only in the past tense, with an infinitive, meaning “did at one time”: he used to live in Iowa
Now Chiefly Dial. to frequent; resort

noun

the act of using or the state of being used
the power or ability to use: to regain the use of an injured hand
the right or permission to use: to grant a neighbor the use of one's car
the need, opportunity, or occasion to use: no further use for his services
an instance or way of using
the quality that makes a thing useful or suitable for a given purpose; advantage; usefulness; worth; utility
the object, end, or purpose for which something is used
function, service, or benefit
constant, continued, customary, or habitual employment, practice, or exercise, or an instance of this; custom; habit; practice; wont
the particular form of ritual or liturgy practiced in a given church, diocese, etc.
Law
1. the enjoyment of property, as from occupying, employing, or exercising it
2. profit, benefit, or advantage, esp. that from lands and tenements held in trust by another

See use in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(yo͞oz)

verb used used, us·ing, us·es

verb, transitive

To put into service or apply for a purpose; employ.
To avail oneself of; practice: use caution.
To conduct oneself toward; treat or handle: “the peace offering of a man who once used you unkindly” (Laurence Sterne).
To seek or achieve an end by means of; exploit: used their highly placed friends to gain access to the president; felt he was being used by seekers of favor.
To take or consume; partake of: She rarely used alcohol.

verb, intransitive (yo͞os, yo͞ost)

Used in the past tense followed by to in order to indicate a former state, habitual practice, or custom: Mail service used to be faster.

noun (yo͞os)

a. The act of using; the application or employment of something for a purpose: with the use of a calculator; skilled in the use of the bow and arrow.
b. The condition or fact of being used: a chair in regular use.
The manner of using; usage: learned the proper use of power tools.
a. The permission, privilege, or benefit of using something: gave us the use of their summerhouse.
b. The power or ability to use something: lost the use of one arm.
The need or occasion to use or employ: have no use for these old clothes.
The quality of being suitable or adaptable to an end; usefulness: tried to be of use in the kitchen.
A purpose for which something is used: a tool with several uses; a pretty bowl, but of what use is it?
Gain or advantage; good: There's no use in discussing it. What's the use?
Accustomed or usual procedure or practice.
Law
a. Enjoyment of property, as by occupying or exercising it.
b. The benefit or profit of lands and tenements of which the legal title and possession are vested in another.
c. The arrangement establishing the equitable right to such benefits and profits.
A liturgical form practiced in a particular church, ecclesiastical district, or community.
Obsolete Usual occurrence or experience.

Phrasal Verb: use up To consume completely: used up all our money.

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