fret

verb \ ˈfret \

Definition of fret

fretted; fretting

transitive verb

1 a :to eat or gnaw into :corrode; also :fray

The acid fretted the metal.

b :rub, chafe

The harness strap was fretting the horse.

c :to make by wearing away a substance

the stream fretted a channel

2 :to cause to suffer emotional strain :vex

don't you fret yourself about me
—J. C. Powys

3 :to pass (time) in fretting

a poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage
—William Shakespeare

4 :agitate, ripple

fret the surface of the lake

intransitive verb

1 a :to eat into something

b :to affect something as if by gnawing or biting :grate

the … urgent voice fretted at his nerves
—Graham Greene

2 a :wear, corrode

Marble frets away due to the rain.

b :chafe

His back where the harness rubbed began to fret.

c :fray 1

3 a :to become vexed or worried

fretting over the high cost of feeding their families
—Vance Packard

b of running water :to become agitated

a brook fretting over rocks

fret was our Word of the Day on 08/19/2016. Hear the podcast!

fret and Eating

Since its first use centuries ago, fret has referred to an act of eating, especially when done by animals—in particular, small ones. You might speak, for example, of moths fretting your clothing. Like eat, fret also developed figurative senses to describe actions that corrode or wear away. A river could be said to "fret away" at its banks or something might be said to be "fretted out" with time or age. Fret can also be applied to emotional experiences so that something that "eats away at us" might be said to "fret the heart or mind." This use developed into the specific meaning of "vex" or "worry" with which we often use fret today.

Origin and Etymology of fret

Middle English, to devour, fret, from Old English fretan to devour; akin to Old High German frezzan to devour, ezzan to eat — more at eat

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 12th century

See Words from the same year

fret

noun

Definition of fret

1 a :the action of wearing away :erosion

b :a worn or eroded spot

2 :an agitation of mind :irritation

Origin and Etymology of fret

see ¹fret

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

fret

verb

Definition of fret

fretted; fretting

transitive verb

1 a :to decorate with interlaced designs

b :to form a pattern upon

2 :to enrich with embossed or pierced carved patterns

Origin and Etymology of fret

Middle English, back-formation from fret, fretted adorned, interwoven, from Anglo-French fretté, past participle of fretter to tie, probably from Vulgar Latin *firmitare, from Latin firmus firm

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

fret

noun

Definition of fret

1 :an ornamental network; especially :a medieval metallic or jeweled net for a woman's headdress

2 :an ornament or ornamental work often in relief consisting of small straight bars intersecting one another in right or oblique angles

Illustration of fret

First Known Use of fret

14th century

fret

noun

Definition of fret

:one of a series of ridges fixed across the fingerboard of a stringed musical instrument (such as a guitar)

—

fretless

adjective

—

fretted

adjective

Origin and Etymology of fret

perhaps from Middle French frete ferrule, from freter

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1500

See Words from the same year

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, refrain, riff, segue

fret

verb

Definition of fret

fretted; fretting

transitive verb

:to press (the strings of a stringed instrument) against the frets

First Known Use of fret

1602

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, refrain, riff, segue

FRET Defined for Kids

fret

verb \ ˈfret \

Definition of fret for Students

fretted; fretting

:¹worry 1

… it was a thing which could not be helped, so I seldom fretted about it …
—Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee

fret

noun

Definition of fret for Students

:an irritated or worried state

Learn More about fret

See words that rhyme with fret Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fret Spanish Central: Translation of fret Nglish: Translation of fret for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fret for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fret

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up fret? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

fret

Definition of fret

People Are Reading

fret was our Word of the Day on 08/19/2016. Hear the podcast!

fret and Eating

Origin and Etymology of fret

fret

Definition of fret

Origin and Etymology of fret

fret

Definition of fret

Origin and Etymology of fret

Other Fine Arts Terms

fret

Definition of fret

Illustration of fret

First Known Use of fret

fret

Definition of fret

fretless

fretted

Origin and Etymology of fret

Other Music Terms

fret

Definition of fret

First Known Use of fret

Other Music Terms

FRET Defined for Kids

fret

Definition of fret for Students

fret

Definition of fret for Students

Learn More about fret

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Origins of 'Lobbyist'

Trending: McCain: Half-Baked, 'Spurious' Nationalism

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Forms of Government Quiz

Words of the Year: 1066