verb
1. exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress (Freq. 2)
-
We wore ourselves out on this hike
• Syn:
• Hypernyms: ↑indispose
• Hyponyms:
• Verb Frames:
-
Somebody ——s somebody
-
Something ——s somebody
-
Sam cannot wear out Sue
2. deteriorate through use or stress (Freq. 1)
-
The constant friction wore out the cloth
• Hypernyms: ↑deteriorate
• Verb Frames:
-
Something ——s
-
Somebody ——s something
-
Something ——s something
3. go to pieces (Freq. 1)
-
The lawn mower finally broke
-
The gears wore out
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The old chair finally fell apart completely
• Syn: ↑break, ↑wear, ↑bust, ↑fall apart
• See Also: ↑wear away (for: ↑wear), ↑wear off (for: ↑wear), ↑break away (for: ↑break), ↑break off (for: ↑break), ↑break up (for: ↑break), ↑break apart (for: ↑break)
• Hypernyms: ↑decay, ↑crumble, ↑dilapidate
• Verb Frames:
-
Something ——s
* * *
wear out [phrasal verb]
2 wear out or wear (something) out or wear out (something) : to become thinner, weaker, or no longer useful because of use or to cause (something) to become thinner, weaker, or no longer useful because of use
The tires wore out after 60,000 miles.
You'll wear out your shoes doing that.
— often used as (be) worn out
The tape is worn out.
• • •
Main Entry: ↑wear
* * *
to become, or make sth become, thin or no longer able to be used, usually because it has been used too much
•
He wore out two pairs of shoes last year.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.