fret

[ fret ]

/ frɛt /

verb (used without object), fret·ted, fret·ting.

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), fret·ted, fret·ting.

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.

noun

an irritated state of mind; annoyance; vexation.

erosion; corrosion; gnawing.

a worn or eroded place.

Origin of fret

before 900; Middle English freten, Old English fretan to eat up, consume; cognate with Old Saxon fretan, Gothic fraitan, Old High German frezzan (German fressen)

SYNONYMS FOR fret

1 fume, rage.

6 worry, harass, goad, tease.

7 erode, gnaw, corrode, abrade, grind, rub, rust.

10 harassment, agitation, worry.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR fret ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

fret·ter, noun

Words nearby fret

fresnel biprism, fresnel lens, fresnel mirrors, fresno, fress, fret, fret saw, fretboard, fretful, fretted, fretting

Definition for fret (2 of 3)

fret ²

[ fret ]

/ frɛt /

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), fret·ted, fret·ting.

to ornament with a fret or fretwork.

Origin of fret

1350–1400; Middle English frette < ?; compare Middle French frete trellis-work, Old English fretwian, variant of frætwian to adorn

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

fret·less, adjective

Definition for fret (3 of 3)

fret ³

[ fret ]

/ frɛt /

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), fret·ted, fret·ting.

to provide with frets.

Origin of fret

First recorded in 1490–1500; origin uncertain

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

fret·less, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for fret

There is however a not-paranoid or market-driven reason to fret, albeit a VERY small one.

Ding Dong, You Have Lice |Kent Sepkowitz |October 31, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Even assuming Wyoming is safe, however, Republicans are right to fret.

Lean In, Liz Cheney, but Please Don’t Win That Senate Seat |Michelle Cottle |July 18, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
In recent weeks, it has been fashionable (and even rational) to fret about the U.S. industrial economy.

Data Show U.S. Industry Shrugs off Sandy Effects |Daniel Gross |December 14, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Not to fret—The Daily Beast breaks down the talking points that will keep things civil while eating your turkey.

Thanksgiving Talking Points Guide: Guide to Hot-Button Topics, and Ones to Avoid |Nina Strochlic |November 21, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

The “all clear” for many of the 10,000 possibly exposed campers will not be given till early October—a long time to fret.

Yosemite Hanta Virus: Nature Strikes Back |Kent Sepkowitz |September 3, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
There is absolutely no reason for you to fret one single instant because of the lies a blackmailer chooses to trump up.

The Heart of a Woman |Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy
Read "envy not," that is, fret not at His love, which is fully awake to what it is doing.

Letters of Samuel Rutherford |Samuel Rutherford
The Chinese fret, the dragon, and fishes are among the designs employed.

Rugs: Oriental and Occidental, Antique & Modern |Rosa Belle Holt
How is poor father, does he look much older does he fret for me now?

A Son of Hagar |Sir Hall Caine
In Heart's Desire it was so calm, so complete, so past and beyond all fret and worry and caring.

Heart's Desire |Emerson Hough

British Dictionary definitions for fret (1 of 4)

fret ¹

/ (frɛt) /

verb frets, fretting or fretted

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

Word Origin for fret

Old English fretan to eat; related to Old High German frezzan, Gothic fraitan, Latin peredere

British Dictionary definitions for fret (2 of 4)

fret ²

/ (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 frets, fretting or fretted

(tr) to ornament with fret or fretwork

Derived forms of fret

fretless, adjective

Word Origin for fret

C14: from Old French frete interlaced design used on a shield, probably of Germanic origin

British Dictionary definitions for fret (3 of 4)

fret ³

/ (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

Derived forms of fret

fretless, adjective

Word Origin for fret

C16: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for fret (4 of 4)

fret ⁴

/ (frɛt) /

noun

short for sea fret

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

fret

verb (used without object), fret·ted, fret·ting.

verb (used with object), fret·ted, fret·ting.

noun

Origin of fret

SYNONYMS FOR fret

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

Words nearby fret

Definition for fret (2 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object), fret·ted, fret·ting.

Origin of fret

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

Definition for fret (3 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object), fret·ted, fret·ting.

Origin of fret

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

Example sentences from the Web for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fret (1 of 4)

verb frets, fretting or fretted

noun

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fret (2 of 4)

noun

verb frets, fretting or fretted

Derived forms of fret

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fret (3 of 4)

noun

Derived forms of fret

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fret (4 of 4)

noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

fret

verb (used without object), fret·ted, fret·ting.

verb (used with object), fret·ted, fret·ting.

noun

Origin of fret

SYNONYMS FOR fret

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

Words nearby fret

Definition for fret (2 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object), fret·ted, fret·ting.

Origin of fret

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

Definition for fret (3 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object), fret·ted, fret·ting.

Origin of fret

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

Words related to fret

Example sentences from the Web for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fret (1 of 4)

verb frets, fretting or fretted

noun

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fret (2 of 4)

noun

verb frets, fretting or fretted

Derived forms of fret

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fret (3 of 4)

noun

Derived forms of fret

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fret (4 of 4)

noun