wear

Universal Words verb, noun verb (wore ) clothing / ornament 1 [VN] to have sth on your body as a piece of clothing, an ornament, etc: Do I have to wear a tie? * to wear a coat / hat / ring / badge / watch * Was she wearing a seat belt? * He wore glasses. * She always wears black (= black clothes). hair 2 to have your hair in a particular style; to have a BEARD or MOUSTACHE: [VN-ADJ] She wears her hair long. * [VN] to wear a beard / moustache expression on face 3 [VN] to have a particular expression on your face: He wore a puzzled look on his face. * His face wore a puzzled look. damage with use 4 to become, or make sth become thinner, smoother or weaker through continuous use or rubbing: [V] The carpets are starting to wear. * [V-ADJ] The sheets have worn thin. * [VN-ADJ] The stones have been worn smooth by the constant flow of water. 5 [VN+adv./prep.] to make a hole, path, etc. in sth by continuous use or rubbing: I've worn holes in all my socks. * The water had worn a channel in the rock. stay in good condition 6 [V] ~ well to stay in good condition after being used for a long time: That carpet is wearing well, isn't it? * (figurative, humorous) You're wearing well-only a few grey hairs! accept / allow 7 [VN] (usually used in questions and negative sentences) (BrE, informal) to accept or allow sth, especially sth that you do not approve of IDIOMS wear your heart on your sleeve to allow your feelings to be seen by other people: He's not one to wear his heart on his sleeve. wear thin to begin to become weaker or less acceptable: These excuses are wearing a little thin (= because we've heard them so many times before). * My patience is beginning to wear very thin. wear the trousers (BrE) (AmE wear the pants) (often disapproving) (especially of a woman) to be the person in a marriage or other relationship who makes most of the decisions: It's obvious who wears the trousers in that family! moreatCAPn. PHRASALVERBS wear away