Definition of wear
wore
play
\ˈwȯr\;
worn
play
\ˈwȯrn\;
wearing
transitive verb
1
:to bear or have on the person
- wore a coat
2 a
:to use habitually for clothing, adornment, or assistance
- wears a size 10
- wear glasses
b
:to carry on the person
- wear a sword
3 a
:to hold the rank or dignity or position signified by (an ornament)
- wear the royal crown
c
:to show or fly (a flag or colors) on a ship
4 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
5
:to produce gradually by friction or attrition
- wear a hole in the rug
7
:to cause (a ship) to go about with the stern presented to the wind
8
British
:to accept or tolerate without complaint :put up with
—usually used in negative constructions
- your mates wouldn't wear it
- —Colin MacInnes
9
:take on 3a
intransitive verb
1 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
2 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
—
wearer
noun
—
wear the trousers
or
wear the pants
:to have the controlling authority in a household
—
wear thin
1
:to become weak or ready to give way
- my patience was wearing thin
2
:to become trite, unconvincing, or out-of-date
- an argument that quickly wore thin
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