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 fretting (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 fretting (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 fretting

For more than a century, Americans have been fretting about these sorts of ghosts.

Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers |Michael Schulson |July 27, 2016 |DAILY BEAST
Now, as it turns out, men are fretting about their closing window to meet someone and have kids.

High Manxiety: Thirtysomething Men Are The New Neurotic Singles |Hannah Seligson |May 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Not because I was fretting about how this might affect the product on the court.

Guns, Blow Jobs, and Choke Holds: a History of the New York Knicks |Robert Silverman |February 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He then counseled me not to use up my “remaining days” fretting over Mia.

The Woody Allen Allegations: Not So Fast |Robert B. Weide |January 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

This is the “trainwreck” many ACA supporters were fretting about and many critics were anticipating with glee.

The Company That Built Obamacare Is Doing Better Than Ever |Daniel Gross |October 18, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
What would Zulma Sarpy do without him, she that is fretting at the very thought of his illness?

The Bastonnais |John Lesperance
Jameson was away up on the frontier tugging at his leash, fretting to burst over the border.

Following the Equator, Complete |Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
While I was fretting myself into a state of hysteria, the catch of one of the great window-doors above me was pushed back.

Martin Hyde, The Duke's Messenger |John Masefield
Which made a bright spot in his life and kept Flora from thinking altogether of her father and fretting for some news of him.

The Long Shadow |B. M. Bower
Copperhead at Macleod was fretting his life out like an eagle in a cage.

The Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail |Ralph Connor

British Dictionary definitions for fretting (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 fretting (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 fretting (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 fretting (4 of 4)

fret ⁴

/ (frɛt) /

noun

short for sea fret

Medical definitions for fretting

fretting

[ frĕt′ĭng ]

n.

A hole, or worn or polished spot made on metals by abrasion or erosion.

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 fretting (2 of 3)

noun

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

Origin of fret

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

Definition for fretting (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 fretting

British Dictionary definitions for fretting (1 of 4)

verb frets, fretting or fretted

noun

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fretting (2 of 4)

noun

verb frets, fretting or fretted

Derived forms of fret

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fretting (3 of 4)

noun

Derived forms of fret

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fretting (4 of 4)

noun

Medical definitions for fretting

n.

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 fretting (2 of 3)

noun

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

Origin of fret

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

Definition for fretting (3 of 3)

noun

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

Origin of fret

OTHER WORDS FROM fret

Words related to fretting

Example sentences from the Web for fretting

British Dictionary definitions for fretting (1 of 4)

verb frets, fretting or fretted

noun

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fretting (2 of 4)

noun

verb frets, fretting or fretted

Derived forms of fret

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fretting (3 of 4)

noun

Derived forms of fret

Word Origin for fret

British Dictionary definitions for fretting (4 of 4)

noun

Medical definitions for fretting

n.