wear
wear Lexical Profile
wear Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To have a garment, accessory, or covering on one's body for protection, decoration, or modesty.
"She prefers to wear a thick wool scarf when the temperature drops below freezing."
To damage, erode, or deteriorate through continuous use, friction, or exposure over time.
"The constant flow of the river began to wear the sharp rocks smooth over the centuries."
To exhibit or present a particular facial expression or outward appearance.
"He always wears a bright smile when greeting his colleagues in the morning."
• noun
Damage, erosion, or deterioration sustained from continuous use, friction, or aging.
"The mechanic noticed significant wear on the brake pads and recommended replacing them immediately."
Clothing or articles for personal adornment, usually of a specified kind or for a specific occasion.
"The department store recently expanded its selection of high-performance athletic wear."
The capacity of a product to withstand continuous use or handling without degrading.
"These heavy-duty leather boots offer excellent wear and will easily last for several harsh winters."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently confused with its homophones 'where' (location) and 'ware' (manufactured goods). Note the irregular verb conjugation: wear, wore, worn.
• Rhymes for wear
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'werian' meaning to clothe or cover up, derived from the Proto-Germanic '*wazjanan' and the Proto-Indo-European root '*wes-' meaning to clothe.