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

He had toiled at car washes the whole time — crouching to scrub tires, stretching to dry roofs and returning home each night with aching heels and knots in his neck.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I am always tired, primarily from helping Karen navigate each day, but also from losing sleep over what lies ahead.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At a party in April, he seemed tired, but was still talking about the success of his paper, one classmate said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They are usually related to simple comforts, “whether it’s a piece of food that tastes good, or a new guitar, or a taxi ride when I’m tired and it’s raining,” he told MarketWatch.

Read more on MarketWatch

They are usually related to simple comforts, “whether it’s a piece of food that tastes good, or a new guitar, or a taxi ride when I’m tired and it’s raining,” he told MarketWatch.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

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