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Wear means to have on the body or to reduce the quality of the appearance by constant use. (verb)

An example of wear is to have on a pair of sunglasses.
An example of wear is to wear a hole in the elbow of a jacket.

Wear means the act of using clothing or gradual impairment or loss due to use. (noun)

An example of wear is sports gear.
An example of wear is scuffing on shoes.

See wear in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb wore, worn, wearing

1. to have on the body or carry on the person (clothing, jewelry, a weapon, etc.)
2. to hold the position or rank symbolized by: to wear the heavyweight crown
3. to dress in (a specified kind of attire) so as to be in style: what college students are wearing this fall
to have or show in one's expression or appearance: to wear a smile, wearing an air of expectancy
to be fitted with or have on the person habitually: to wear dentures
to have or bear as a characteristic or attribute: to wear a beard, to wear one's hair long
to fly or show (its flag): said of a ship
to impair, consume, or diminish as by constant use, handling, or friction: often with away
to bring by use to a specified state: to wear a coat to rags
to make, cause, or produce by the friction of rubbing, scraping, flowing, etc.: to wear a hole in the sole of one's shoe
to tire or exhaust (a person)
to pass (time) slowly or tediously: often with away or out

intransitive verb

to become impaired, consumed, or diminished by constant use, friction, etc.: shoes that have begun to wear
to hold up in use as specified; bear continued use or handling; last: a suit that wears well
to become in time; grow gradually: courage that is wearing thin
to pass away gradually: often with away or on: said of time [the year wore on]
to have an irritating or exhausting effect (on): noise wearing on our nerves

noun

the act of wearing or the state of being worn
things, esp. clothes, worn, or for wearing, on the body [children's wear]: often in combination [sportswear, footwear]
the fashion or proper style of dress or the like
1. the gradual impairment, loss, or diminution from use, friction, etc.
2. the amount of such loss
the ability to resist impairment or loss from use, friction, etc.: a lot of wear left in the tire

Related Forms:

wearer noun

transitive verb wore, worn, wearing

to turn or bring (a vessel) about by swinging its bow away from the wind; veer

intransitive verb

to turn or come about by having the bow swung away from the wind

noun

the act of wearing a ship

river in Durham, N England, flowing northeast into the North Sea: 67 mi (108 km)

See wear in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(wâr)

verb wore wore (wôr, wōr), worn worn (wôrn, wōrn), wear·ing, wears

verb, transitive

To carry or have on the person as covering, adornment, or protection: wearing a jacket; must wear a seat belt.
To carry or have habitually on the person, especially as an aid: wears glasses.
To display in one's appearance: always wears a smile.
To bear, carry, or maintain in a particular manner: wears her hair long.
To fly or display (colors). Used of a ship, jockey, or knight.
To damage, diminish, erode, or consume by long or hard use, attrition, or exposure. Often used with away, down, or off: rocks worn away by the sea; shoes worn down at the heels.
To produce by constant use, attrition, or exposure: eventually wore hollows in the stone steps.
To bring to a specified condition by long use or attrition: wore the clothes to rags; pebbles worn smooth.
To fatigue, weary, or exhaust: Your incessant criticism has worn my patience.
Nautical To make (a sailing ship) come about with the wind aft.

verb, intransitive

a. To last under continual or hard use: a fabric that will wear.
b. To last through the passage of time: a friendship that wears well.
To break down or diminish through use or attrition: The rear tires began to wear.
To pass gradually or tediously: The hours wore on.
Nautical To come about with stern to windward.

noun

The act of wearing or the state of being worn; use: The coat has had heavy wear.
Clothing, especially of a particular kind or for a particular use. Often used in combination: rainwear; footwear.
Gradual impairment or diminution resulting from use or attrition.
The ability to withstand impairment from use or attrition: The engine has plenty of wear left.

Phrasal Verbs: wear down To break down or exhaust by relentless pressure or resistance. wear off To diminish gradually in effect: The drug wore off. wear out To make or become unusable through long or heavy use. To use up or consume gradually. To exhaust; tire. Chiefly Southern U.S. To punish by spanking.

Related Forms:

wearˈer noun

Learn more about wear

» wear synonyms

» WEAR abbreviations & acronyms

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