fret
1. fret \'fret\ vt or fret.ted; or fret.ting [ME freten to devour, fret,
fr. OE fretan to devour; akin to OHG Xfrezzan to devour, ezzan to eat 1: to
cause to suffer emotional strain : VEX 2a: to eat or gnaw into : CORRODE;
also : FRAY 2b: RUB, CHAFE 2c: to make by wearing away a substance {the
stream fretted a chan nel} 3: to pass (as time) in fretting 4: AGITATE,
RIPPLE 1a: to eat into something 1b: to affect something as if by gnawing
or biting : GRATE 2a: WEAR, CORRODE 2b: CHAFE 2c: FRAY 3a: to become
vexed or worried of running water 3b: to become agitated
2. fret n 1a: the action of wearing away : EROSION 1b: a worn or eroded
spot 2: an agitation of mind : IRRITATION
3. fret vt or fret.ted; or fret.ting [ME fretten, fr. MF freter to bind
with a ferrule, fret, fr. OF, fr]. frete ferrule 1a: to decorate with
interlaced designs 1b: to form a pattern upon 2: to enrich with embossed
or pierced carved patterns
4. fret n 1: an ornamental network; esp : a woman's headdress 2: an
ornament or ornamental work often in relief consisting of small strai ght
bars intersecting one another in right or oblique angles
5. fret n [prob. fr. MF frete ferrule] : one of a series of ridges fixed
across the fingerboard of a stringed mus ical instrument
6. fret vt or fret.ted; or fret.ting : to furnish with frets