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fret - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'fret' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Fret [ n.]
- See 1st Frith.
- The agitation of the surface of a fluid by fermentation or other cause; a rippling on the surface of water.
- Agitation of mind marked by complaint and impatience; disturbance of temper; irritation; as, he keeps his mind in a continual fret.
- Herpes; tetter.
- The worn sides of river banks, where ores, or stones containing them, accumulate by being washed down from the hills, and thus indicate to the miners the locality of the veins.
- Ornamental work in relief, as carving or embossing. See Fretwork.
- An ornament consisting of smmall fillets or slats intersecting each other or bent at right angles, as in classical designs, or at obilique angles, as often in Oriental art.
- The reticulated headdress or net, made of gold or silver wire, in which ladies in the Middle Ages confined their hair.
- A saltire interlaced with a mascle.
- A short piece of wire, or other material fixed across the finger board of a guitar or a similar instrument, to indicate where the finger is to be placed.
2 . Fret [ v. i.]
- To be worn away; to chafe; to fray; as, a wristband frets on the edges.
- To eat in; to make way by corrosion.
- To be agitated; to be in violent commotion; to rankle; as, rancor frets in the malignant breast.
- To be vexed; to be chafed or irritated; to be angry; to utter peevish expressions.
3 . Fret [ v. t.]
- To devour.
- To rub; to wear away by friction; to chafe; to gall; hence, to eat away; to gnaw; as, to fret cloth; to fret a piece of gold or other metal; a worm frets the plants of a ship.
- To impair; to wear away; to diminish.
- To make rough, agitate, or disturb; to cause to ripple; as, to fret the surface of water.
- To tease; to irritate; to vex.
- To ornament with raised work; to variegate; to diversify.
- To furnish with frets, as an instrument of music.

Meaning of 'fret' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . fret [ n]
Meaning (1):
- agitation resulting from active worry
Example in sentence:
  • don't get in a stew;
  • he's in a sweat about exams
Meaning (2):
- an ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines (often in relief)
Example in sentence:
  • there was a simple fret at the top of the walls
3 . fret [ v]
Meaning (3):
- be agitated or irritated
Example in sentence:
  • don't fret over these small details
Meaning (4):
- worry unnecessarily or excessively
Example in sentence:
  • don't fuss too much over the grandchildren--they are quite big now
Meaning (5):
- provide (a musical instrument) with frets
Example in sentence:
  • fret a guitar
Meaning (6):
- gnaw into; make resentful or angry
Example in sentence:
  • his resentment festered;
  • The injustice rankled her
Meaning (7):
- cause friction
Example in sentence:
  • my sweater scratches
Meaning (8):
- remove soil or rock
Example in sentence:
  • Rain eroded the terraces
Meaning (9):
- be too tight; rub or press
Example in sentence:
  • This neckband is choking the cat

Nearby Words:

freak freaked freaking freakish freck freckle freckled freckledness freckling freckly

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