WEARING - 7 definitions found
wearing adj 1: producing exhaustion; "an exhausting march"; "the visit was especially wearing" [syn: exhausting, tiring, wearing, wearying] n 1: (geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it) [syn: erosion, eroding, eating away, wearing, wearing away}] 2: the act of having on your person as a covering or adornment; "she bought it for everyday wear" [syn: wear, wearing] Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003) wearing I. adjective Date: 15th century intended for wear <wearing apparel> II. adjective Date: 1811 subjecting to or inflicting wear; especially causing fatigue <a wearing journey> • wearingly adverb Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner\'s English Dictionary wearing If you say that a situation or activity is wearing, you mean that it requires a lot of energy and makes you feel mentally or physically tired. She finds the continual confrontation very wearing... = tiring, exhausting ADJ: usu v-link ADJ Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Wear \Wear\, v. t. [imp. Wore; p. p. Worn; p. pr. & vb. n. Wearing. Before the 15th century wear was a weak verb, the imp. & p. p. being Weared.] [OE. weren, werien, AS. werian to carry, to wear, as arms or clothes; akin to OHG. werien, weren, to clothe, Goth. wasjan, L. vestis clothing, vestire to clothe, Gr. ?, Skr. vas. Cf. Vest.] 1. To carry or bear upon the person; to bear upon one's self, as an article of clothing, decoration, warfare, bondage, etc.; to have appendant to one's body; to have on; as, to wear a coat; to wear a shackle. What compass will you wear your farthingale? --Shak. On her white breast a sparkling cross s?? wore, Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore. --Pope. 2. To have or exhibit an appearance of, as an aspect or manner; to bear; as, she wears a smile on her countenance. ``He wears the rose of youth upon him.'' --Shak. His innocent gestures wear A meaning half divine. --Keble. 3. To use up by carrying or having upon one's self; hence, to consume by use; to waste; to use up; as, to wear clothes rapidly. 4. To impair, waste, or diminish, by continual attrition, scraping, percussion, on the like; to consume gradually; to cause to lower or disappear; to spend. That wicked wight his days doth wear. --Spenser. The waters wear the stones. --Job xiv. 19. 5. To cause or make by friction or wasting; as, to wear a channel; to wear a hole. 6. To form or shape by, or as by, attrition. Trials wear us into a liking of what, possibly, in the first essay, displeased us. --Locke. To wear away, to consume; to impair, diminish, or destroy, by gradual attrition or decay. To wear off, to diminish or remove by attrition or slow decay; as, to wear off the nap of cloth. To wear on or upon, to wear. [Obs.] ``[I] weared upon my gay scarlet gites [gowns.]'' --Chaucer. To wear out. (a) To consume, or render useless, by attrition or decay; as, to wear out a coat or a book. (b) To consume tediously. ``To wear out miserable days.'' --Milton. (c) To harass; to tire. ``[He] shall wear out the saints of the Most High.'' --Dan vii. 25. (d) To waste the strength of; as, an old man worn out in military service. To wear the breeches. See under Breeches. [Colloq.] Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Wearing \Wear"ing\, n. 1. The act of one who wears; the manner in which a thing wears; use; conduct; consumption. Belike he meant to ward, and there to see his wearing. --Latimer. 2. That which is worn; clothes; garments. [Obs.] Give me my nightly wearing and adieu. --Shak. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Wearing \Wear"ing\, a. Pertaining to, or designed for, wear; as, wearing apparel. |
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