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fret
1[ fret ]
verb (used without object)
- to 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.
verb (used with object)
- 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.
fret
2[ fret ]
noun
- 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.
verb (used with object)
- to ornament with a fret or fretwork.
fret
3[ fret ]
noun
- 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.
verb (used with object)
- to provide with frets.
fret
1/ frɛt /
noun
- 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
fret
2/ frɛt /
verb
- 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
noun
- a state of irritation or anxiety
- the result of fretting; corrosion
- a hole or channel caused by fretting
fret
3/ frɛt /
noun
- 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
verb
- tr to ornament with fret or fretwork
fret
4/ frɛt /
noun
- short for sea fret
Derived Forms
- ˈfretless, adjective
- ˈfretless, adjective
Other Words From
- fretter noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of fret1
Origin of fret2
Origin of fret3
Word History and Origins
Origin of fret1
Origin of fret2
Origin of fret3
Example Sentences
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.
In recent weeks, it has been fashionable (and even rational) to fret about the U.S. industrial economy.
Not to fret—The Daily Beast breaks down the talking points that will keep things civil while eating your turkey.
The “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.'
Hence were, in the next line, must mean to wear away, to fret; cf. note to 4712.
Strange to say, to the astonishment of all but Lucy, young Mrs. Haggard continued to "fret."
Davie would be well away, for he would fret about his grandmother, and that would do neither of them any good.
And the woman laughed, and said, Truly, thou doest ill to fret thyself for such a matter.
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