wear

B1 · Intermediate

v. to become thin or damaged because of constant use.

v. to damage, erode, or consume by long use or exposure. Can be used transitively or intransitively.

“The constant walking started to wear a hole in his favorite socks.”

“Years of heavy foot traffic had begun to wear the stone steps of the cathedral into smooth, shallow curves.”

C1 · Advanced British English · Informal

v. to accept or agree to an idea or a situation.

v. to accept, tolerate, or 'buy into' a suggestion or excuse. Primarily used in negative constructions.

“I tried to explain why I was late, but the boss wouldn't wear it.”

“The committee is unlikely to wear such a radical proposal given the current budgetary constraints and political climate.”

C2 · Proficiency Science Technical

v. to turn a sailing ship by moving the back of the boat through the wind.

v. to bring a sailing vessel onto the other tack by bringing the wind around the stern. Contrast with 'tacking', where the bow passes through the wind.

“The captain decided to wear the ship to avoid the approaching storm.”

“In heavy seas, the crew found it safer to wear the ship rather than risk a missed stays while attempting to tack.”

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the damage that happens to something when it is used a lot.

n. impairment or loss of quality resulting from long use or friction. Often paired with 'tear' in the binomial 'wear and tear'.

“The carpet is showing a lot of wear in the hallway.”

“The engineer inspected the engine for signs of excessive wear before certifying the aircraft for its next flight.”

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. a specific type of clothing, like clothes for the gym or for children.

n. clothing of a particular kind or for a particular use. Usually appears as the second element in a compound noun.

Español:ropa

“The store has a large section for children's wear on the second floor.”

“The brand specializes in high-performance active wear designed for professional athletes training in extreme climates.”