chambers_search-1

Search Chambers

Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

  



Search Tips & Abbreviations

Search results for 'wear':

wear1 verb (wore , worn, wearing) 1 to be dressed in something, or have it on one's body. 2 to have (one's hair or beard, etc) cut a certain length or in a certain style. 3 to have (a certain expression). 4 to display or show something. 5 said of a ship: to fly (a flag). 6 intrans said of a carpet or garment: to become thin or threadbare through use. 7 to make (a hole or bare patch, etc) in something through heavy use. 8 intrans to bear intensive use; to last in use. 9 colloq to accept (an excuse or story, etc) or tolerate (a situation, etc). 10 to tire • worn to a frazzle. noun 1 the act of wearing or state of being worn. 2 often in compounds clothes suitable for a specified purpose, person or occasion, etc • menswear • evening wear. 3 the amount or type of use that clothing or carpeting, etc gets • subjected to heavy wear. 4 damage caused through use. See also wear and tear. wearer noun. wearing thin 1 becoming thin or threadbare. 2 said of an excuse, etc: becoming unconvincing or ineffective through over-use. the worse for wear 1 showing signs of wear. 2 showing signs of exhaustion or intoxication, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon werian.

wear away or wear something away to become or make something thin, or to disappear or make something disappear completely, through rubbing or weathering, etc.

wear down or wear something down to become reduced or consumed, or to reduce or consume something, by constant use, rubbing, friction, etc.

wear someone down to tire or overcome them, especially with persistent objections or demands.

wear off said of a feeling or pain, etc: to become less intense; to disappear gradually.

wear on said of time: to pass.

wear on someone to irritate them.

wear out or wear something out to become unusable or make it unusable through use. See also worn out.

wear someone out to tire them completely; to exhaust them.

wear through said of clothing, etc: to develop a hole through heavy wear.

wear2 verb (wore , worn, wearing) naut 1 to bring (a ship) to another course by turning the helm towards the wind. 2 intrans said of a ship: to turn towards the wind.
ETYMOLOGY: 17c.