tire

¹

[tahy^uhr]

verb (used with object)

tired, tiring 

1. to reduce or exhaust the strength of, as by exertion; make weary; fatigue (often followed byout ).

   The long walk tired him.

2. to exhaust the interest, patience, etc., of; make weary; bore.

   Your stories tire me.

   Synonyms: irk, exasperate

verb (used without object)

tired, tiring 

1. to have the strength reduced or exhausted, as by labor or exertion; become fatigued; be sleepy.

2. to have one's appreciation, interest, patience, etc., exhausted; become or be weary; become bored (usually followed byof ).

   He soon tired of playing billiards.

noun

1. British Dialect.,  fatigue.

tire

²

British, tyre

[tahy^uhr]

noun

1. a ring or band of rubber, either solid or hollow and inflated, or of metal, placed over the rim of a wheel to provide traction, resistance to wear, or other desirable properties.

2. a metal band attached to the outside of the felloes and forming the tread of a wagon wheel.

verb (used with object)

tired, tiring 

1. to furnish with tires.

tire

³

[tahy^uhr]

verb (used with object)

tired, tiring 

1. Archaic.,  to dress (the head or hair), especially with a headdress.

2. Obsolete.,  to attire or array.

noun

1. Archaic.,  a headdress.

2. Obsolete.,  attire or dress.

tire

¹

/ ˈtaɪə /

verb

1. (tr) to reduce the energy of, esp by exertion; weary

2. (tr; often passive) to reduce the tolerance of; bore or irritate

   I'm tired of the children's chatter

3. (intr) to become wearied or bored; flag

tire

²

/ ˈtaɪə /

noun

1. the US spelling of tyre

tire

³

/ ˈtaɪə /

verb

1. an archaic word for attire

Other Word Forms

• tiring adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tire¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English tire(n), teoren “to diminish, weaken,” Old English tȳrian, tēorian “to faint, cause to faint”; further etymology uncertain

Origin of tire²

First recorded in 1475–85; special use of tire ³ (in the sense “dress, attire, accouterment (for a wheel”)

Origin of tire³

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English tire(n), teren “to clothe, dress, equip (a knight) for battle”; shortening of attire

Word History and Origins

Origin of tire¹

Old English tēorian, of unknown origin

Related Words

• annoy 
• bore 
• depress 
• disgust 
• dishearten 
• dispirit 
• displease 
• drain 
• exasperate 
• fail 
• fatigue 
• irk 
• irritate 
• jade 
• overwork 
• wear 
• worry