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

Mr Scullion, who spends his days driving for the dial-a-lift service, said rural roads in Mid Ulster are "very tired" and "the edges have eroded away".

From BBC

Nazarian, a former state Assembly member and former aide to Krekorian, said in a phone call Tuesday that he was “tired” but in “great spirits.”

From Los Angeles Times

It appears the prime minister had grown tired of Ms Gray’s failure to actually start the paid, part-time job that she had been demoted into when she left Downing Street.

From BBC

“People are tired of feeling like government is unable to solve the most difficult problems,” said Keally McBride, a politics professor at the University of San Francisco.

From Los Angeles Times

Grindr’s unique user interface known as the grid allows for quick and abundant connections and avoids the swiping model that some users have grown tired of, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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