Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - wear

 geographical name river 67 miles (108 kilometers) N England flowing into North Sea at Sunderland WEAR  I. verb  (wore; worn; ~ing)  Etymology: Middle English weren, from Old English werian; akin to Old Norse verja to clothe, invest, spend, Latin vestis clothing, garment, Greek hennynai to clothe  Date: before 12th century  transitive verb  1. to bear or have on the person wore a coat  2.  a. to use habitually for clothing, adornment, or assistance ~s a size 10 ~ glasses  b. to carry on the person ~ a sword  3.  a. to hold the rank or dignity or position signified by (an ornament) ~ the royal crown  b. exhibit, present wore a happy smile commend the book for ~ing its research so lightly — Brad Leithauser  c. to show or fly (a flag or colors) on a ship  4.  a. to cause to deteriorate by use  b. to impair or diminish by use or attrition ; consume or waste gradually letters on the stone worn away by weathering  5. to produce gradually by friction or attrition ~ a hole in the rug  6. to exhaust or lessen the strength of ; ~y, fatigue  7. to cause (a ship) to go about with the stern presented to the wind  8. British to accept or tolerate without complaint ; put up with — usually used in negative constructions your mates wouldn't ~ it — Colin MacInnes  9. take on 3a  intransitive verb  1.  a. to endure use ; last under use or the passage of time material that will ~ for years  b. to retain quality or vitality the classics ~ well  2.  a. to diminish or decay through use the heels of his shoes began to ~  b. to diminish or fail with the passage of time the effect of the drug wore off the day wore on  c. to grow or become by attrition or use the blade wore dull  3. of a ship to change to an opposite tack by turning the stern to the wind — compare tack  • ~er noun  II. noun  Date: 15th century  1. the act of ~ing ; the state of being worn ; use clothes for everyday ~  2.  a. clothing or an article of clothing usually of a particular kind; especially clothing worn for a special occasion or popular during a specific period  b. fashion, vogue  3. ~ing quality ; durability under use  4. the result of ~ing or use ; diminution or impairment due to use ~-resistant surface