tire

¹

[ tahyuhr ]

verb (used with object)

, tired, tir·ing.

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

   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, tir·ing.

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 by of ):

   He soon tired of playing billiards.

noun

1. British Dialect. fatigue.

tire

²

[ tahyuhr ]

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, tir·ing.

1. to furnish with tires.

tire

³

[ tahyuhr ]

verb (used with object)

, tired, tir·ing.

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. an archaic word for attire

tire

²

/ ˈtaɪə /

noun

1. the US spelling of tyre

tire

³

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈtiring, 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

Supporters will quickly tire of talk of learning lessons if the lessons are not being learned.

From BBC

He did have 12 rebounds and eight assists, but he seemed to tire after playing 40 minutes and having to do most of the scoring.

From Los Angeles Times

Gathering at the Ghost Tire Memorial, they left flowers and small lights near tires set up like gravestones with the names of crash victims.

From Los Angeles Times

From the start, she recalls, odd things caught her attention: When a motorcycle tire burst on the street, everyone froze, suspecting gunfire.

From Salon

In Danville, Ky., we once bought rain boots while waiting for a flat tire to be fixed.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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