1. Producing exhaustion
   "the visit was especially wearing";
   - exhausting, tiring, wearying

1. (geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it), also figuratively
   "The constant wearing of the cliffs by the sea has reshaped the coastline";
   - erosion, eroding, eating away, wearing away, degradation
    
2. The act of having on your person as a covering or adornment
   "she bought it for everyday wearing";
   - wear

1. Be dressed in
   "She was wearing yellow that day";
   - have on
    
2. Have on one's person
   "He wore a red ribbon";
   - bear
    
3. Show an expression of one's attitude or personality
   "He always wears a smile"
    
4. Put clothing on one's body
   "What should I wear today?";
   - put on, get into, don, assume
    
5. Have or show an appearance of
   "wear one's hair in a certain way"
    
6. Deteriorate through use or stress
   "The constant friction wore out the cloth"; "His patience was wearing thin after hours of waiting"; "The tire treads wore down after many miles";
   - wear out, wear down, wear thin
    
7. Last and be usable
   "This dress wore well for almost ten years";
   - hold out, endure
    
8. Become damaged, weakened, or useless through use
   "The gears wore out"; "The old shoes finally wore out";
   - wear out
    
9. Exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
   "We wore ourselves out on this hike"; "The constant demands of her job wore upon her"; "The long hike wore down even the fittest climbers";
   - tire, wear upon, tire out, weary, jade, wear out, outwear, wear down, fag out [Brit, informal], fag [informal], fatigue, knacker [Brit, informal]

Derived forms: wearings

See also: effortful

Type of: act, crumble, decay, deed, deteriorate, dilapidate, dress, endure, feature, geologic process, geological process, get dressed, have, have got, hold, human action, human activity, indispose, last

Encyclopedia: Wearing, Michael