Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Intended to be worn.
  • adjective Causing fatigue; tiring.
  • adjective Causing wear; eroding.
  • adjective Subject to or showing indication of wear.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Wasting; consuming; exhausting; tiring: as, wearing suspense or grief.
  • noun The act. of one who wears.
  • noun That which one wears; clothes; garments.
  • noun The act of wearing away or passing.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Pertaining to, or designed for, wear.
  • noun The act of one who wears; the manner in which a thing wears; use; conduct; consumption.
  • noun obsolete That which is worn; clothes; garments.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective intended to be worn
  • adjective causing tiredness
  • adjective causing erosion
  • noun the mechanical process of eroding or grinding
  • verb Present participle of wear.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective producing exhaustion
  • noun (geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
  • noun the act of having on your person as a covering or adornment

Etymologies

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Examples

  • He bore little resemblance to the tough, angry kid who had swaggered into my room at the beginning of the term wearing a jacket with a skull-and-crossbones patch and looking as if he were spoiling for a fight.

    How to Talk so Kids Can Learn Adele Faber 1995

  • He bore little resemblance to the tough, angry kid who had swaggered into my room at the beginning of the term wearing a jacket with a skull-and-crossbones patch and looking as if he were spoiling for a fight.

    How to Talk so Kids Can Learn Adele Faber 1995

  • He bore little resemblance to the tough, angry kid who had swaggered into my room at the beginning of the term wearing a jacket with a skull-and-crossbones patch and looking as if he were spoiling for a fight.

    How to Talk so Kids Can Learn Adele Faber 1995

  • He bore little resemblance to the tough, angry kid who had swaggered into my room at the beginning of the term wearing a jacket with a skull-and-crossbones patch and looking as if he were spoiling for a fight.

    How to Talk so Kids Can Learn Adele Faber 1995

  • Cameron accepted the title wearing a yellow dress with a gold-bodice and chandelier earrings.

    NBC Washington - Top Stories 2010

  • It turns out no one at the liquor store had ever heard of Cutty Sark (despite the history), so I settled instead on an amber Caribbean rum with a comely woman on the label wearing some fruit and a smile.

    SFGate: Top News Stories Spud Hilton 2008

  • I know the feeling others have spoken of about feeling conspicuous and self-conscious in wearing feminine clothes.

    The Pink Dress 2009

  • So yes, I would have to be careful in wearing pink - but that doesn't mean I can't do it!

    The Pink Dress 2009

  • Getting the real thing can be pricy but if you're on your feet all day they're a godsent - though if you're bold enough to begin wearing stays, expect the usual commentary from family, health workers etc.

    What Women Are Saying About Clothing Today 2009

  • I strutted in wearing a new provocative outfit that I had purchased for an exorbitant price at one of the local shops.

    We Love You! 2009

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