Webster's English Dictionary

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wear

Cross references:
  1. tack                  
 
1. wear \'wa(*)r, 'we(*)r\ \'wo-(*)r, 'wo.(*)r\ \'wo-(*)rn, 'wo.(*)rn\ 
   \'war-*-b*l, 'wer-\ vb or wore;  or worn or wear.ing [ME weren, fr. OE 
   werian; akin to ON verja to clothe, invest,] spend, L vestis clothing, 
   garment, Gk hennynai to clothe 1: to bear or have upon the person {wore a 
   coat}  2a: to use habitually for clothing or adornment {~s a toupee } 2b: 
   to carry on the person {~ a sword}  3a: to hold the rank or dignity or 
   position signified by (an ornament) { ~ the royal crown} 3b: to have or 
   show an appearance of {wore a happy smile}  3c: to show or fly (a flag or 
   colors) on a ship  4a: to cause to deteriorate by use  4b: to impair or 
   diminish by use or attrition : consume or waste gradual ly {letters on the 
   stone worn away by weathering} 5: to produce gradually by friction or 
   attrition {~ a hole in the  rug} 6: to exhaust or lessen the strength of : 
   WEARY, FATIGUE  7: to cause (a ship) to go about with the stern presented 
   to the wind  1a: to endure use : last under use or the passage of time  1b: 
   to retain quality or vitality  2: to diminish or decay through use {it grew 
   colder as the day woreX on} 3: to grow or become by attrition or use  of a 
   ship  4: to go about by turning the stern to the wind  : IRRITATE, FRAY  : 
   to serve in prison  - wear.able aj
2. wear n 1: the act of wearing : the state of being worn : USE {clothes  
   for everyday ~} 2a: clothing or an article of clothing usu. of a particular 
   kind; esp  : clothing worn for a special occasion or popular during a 
   specific period 2b: FASHION, VOGUE  3: wearing quality : durability under 
   use  4: the result of wearing or use : diminution or impairment due to use 
   { wear-resistant surface}