fret
1to feel or express worry, annoyance, discontent, or the like: Fretting about the lost ring isn't going to help.
to cause corrosion; gnaw into something: acids that fret at the strongest metals.
to make a way by gnawing, corrosion, wearing away, etc.: The river frets at its banks until a new channel is formed.
to become eaten, worn, or corroded (often followed by away): Limestone slowly frets away under pounding by the wind and rain.
to move in agitation or commotion, as water: water fretting over the stones of a brook.
to torment; irritate, annoy, or vex: You mustn't fret yourself about that.
to wear away or consume by gnawing, friction, rust, corrosives, etc.: the ocean fretting its shores.
to form or make by wearing away a substance: The river had fretted an underground passage.
to agitate (water): Strong winds were fretting the channel.
Origin of fret
1Other words for fret
Other words from fret
- fretter, noun
Words Nearby fret
Other definitions for fret (2 of 3)
an interlaced, angular design; fretwork.
an angular design of bands within a border.
Heraldry. a charge composed of two diagonal strips interlacing with and crossing at the center of a mascle.
a piece of decoratively pierced work placed in a clock case to deaden the sound of the mechanism.
Origin of fret
2Other words from fret
- fretless, adjective
Other definitions for fret (3 of 3)
any of the ridges of wood, metal, or string, set across the fingerboard of a guitar, lute, or similar instrument, which help the fingers to stop the strings at the correct points.
to provide with frets.
Origin of fret
3Other words from fret
- fretless, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use fret in a sentence
There is however a not-paranoid or market-driven reason to fret, albeit a VERY small one.
Even assuming Wyoming is safe, however, Republicans are right to fret.
Lean In, Liz Cheney, but Please Don’t Win That Senate Seat | Michelle Cottle | July 18, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTIn recent weeks, it has been fashionable (and even rational) to fret about the U.S. industrial economy.
Data Show U.S. Industry Shrugs off Sandy Effects | Daniel Gross | December 14, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTNot to fret—The Daily Beast breaks down the talking points that will keep things civil while eating your turkey.
Thanksgiving Talking Points Guide: Guide to Hot-Button Topics, and Ones to Avoid | Nina Strochlic | November 21, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTThe “all clear” for many of the 10,000 possibly exposed campers will not be given till early October—a long time to fret.
Rose, l. 4705, And through the fret full, read A trouthe fret full.'
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems | Geoffrey ChaucerHence were, in the next line, must mean to wear away, to fret; cf. note to 4712.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems | Geoffrey ChaucerStrange to say, to the astonishment of all but Lucy, young Mrs. Haggard continued to "fret."
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3) | Charles James WillsDavie would be well away, for he would fret about his grandmother, and that would do neither of them any good.
David Fleming's Forgiveness | Margaret Murray RobertsonAnd the woman laughed, and said, Truly, thou doest ill to fret thyself for such a matter.
The Cradle of Mankind | W.A. Wigram
British Dictionary definitions for fret (1 of 4)
/ (frɛt) /
to distress or be distressed; worry
to rub or wear away
to irritate or be irritated; feel or give annoyance or vexation
to eat away or be eaten away by chemical action; corrode
(intr) (of a road surface) to become loose so that potholes develop; scab
to agitate (water) or (of water) to be agitated
(tr) to make by wearing away; erode
a state of irritation or anxiety
the result of fretting; corrosion
a hole or channel caused by fretting
Origin of fret
1British Dictionary definitions for fret (2 of 4)
/ (frɛt) /
a repetitive geometrical figure, esp one used as an ornamental border
such a pattern made in relief and with numerous small openings; fretwork
heraldry a charge on a shield consisting of a mascle crossed by a saltire
(tr) to ornament with fret or fretwork
Origin of fret
2Derived forms of fret
- fretless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for fret (3 of 4)
/ (frɛt) /
any of several small metal bars set across the fingerboard of a musical instrument of the lute, guitar, or viol family at various points along its length so as to produce the desired notes when the strings are stopped by the fingers
Origin of fret
3Derived forms of fret
- fretless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for fret (4 of 4)
/ (frɛt) /
short for sea fret
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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