wear1

verb (past wore /wɔː/; past participle worn /wɔːn/)

• 1 [with object] have (something) on one’s body as clothing, decoration, or protection:he was wearing a dark suit firemen wearing breathing apparatus
• habitually have on one’s body or be dressed in:although she was a widow, she didn’t wear black
• exhibit or present (a particular facial expression or appearance):they wear a frozen smile on their faces
• [with object and complement or adverbial] have (one’s hair or beard) at a specified length or arranged in a specified style:the students wore their hair long
• Nautical (of a ship) fly (a flag): any British registered boat may wear the red ensign

• 2 [with object and adverbial or complement] damage, erode, or destroy by friction or use:the track has been worn down in part to bare rock shells worn smooth by the sea
• [no object, with adverbial or complement] undergo damage, erosion, or destruction as a result of friction or use:mountains are wearing down with each passing second the road surface had worn smooth
• [with object] form (a hole, path, etc.) by constant friction or use:the water was forced up through holes it had worn
• [no object, with adverbial] withstand continued use or life in a specified way:a carpet that seems to wear well

• 3 [with object] literary pass (a period of time) in some activity:spinning long stories, wearing half the day

• 4 [with object, usually with negative] British informal tolerate; accept:the environmental health people wouldn’t wear it

noun

• 1 [with modifier or in combination] clothing suitable for a particular purpose or of a particular type:evening wear
• the wearing of something or the state of being worn as clothing:some new tops for wear in the evening

• 2damage or deterioration sustained from continuous use:you need to make a deduction for wear and tear on all your belongings
• the capacity for withstanding continuous use without damage or deterioration:the suit has about another 10 years of normal wear left in it