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

Example Sentences

AAA recommends drivers fill their gas tanks the night before their trip, and check their car battery and tire pressure.

Read more on Barron's

They’re simply tired — too tired to demand the structural change that is required.

Read more on MarketWatch

US Vice President JD Vance said earlier this year that the White House was growing tired of other countries trying to regulate American tech businesses.

Read more on BBC

A slow, steady hissing noise comes from the table, similar to air leaking from a tire.

Read more on Science Daily

"Olivia and I spent a lot of time moving tiny amounts of dirt, and it was hot and tiring," Kidder said.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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