Search results for 'use':

use verb (used, using) 1 to put to a particular purpose. 2 to consume; to take something as fuel. 3 to treat someone as a means to benefit oneself; to exploit them. 4 slang to take (eg drugs or alcohol) regularly. 5 old use to behave (well or badly) towards someone. noun 1 the act of using. 2 the state of being (able to be) used • go out of use • not in use. 3 a practical purpose a thing can be put to. 4 the quality of serving a practical purpose • It's no use complaining • Is this spanner any use? 5 the ability or power to use something (eg a limb) • lost the use of her leg after the accident. 6 the length of time a thing is, will be or has remained serviceable • should give you plenty of use. 7 the habit of using; custom. have no use for something or someone 1 to have no need of it or them. 2 colloq to dislike or despise it or them. make use of someone to exploit them. make use of something to put it to a practical purpose. use by said of perishable food: recommended to be consumed by the specified date • use by Dec 99. Also as adj • The use-by date was clearly marked. used to something or someone or to doing or being something accustomed to it or them, or to doing or being it • She's not used to working so fast • used to being in charge of two hundred people • The puppies haven't got used to us yet. See also separate entry used to. used up colloq tired or exhausted.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French user, from Latin usus, from uti to use.