Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 PHRASAL VERB If something wears you out , it makes you feel extremely tired. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n P ] The past few days had really worn him out. □  The young people run around kicking a ball, wearing themselves out. □ [V P n] The effect of the continuous attacks has been to wear out his troops.

3 → see also worn out

wear|able /weə rəb ^ə l/

1 ADJ Wearable clothes are practical, comfortable, and suitable for ordinary people to wear, rather than being very unusual or extreme. □  It's fashionable but wearable, and it's easy to look after.

2 ADJ A wearable electronic device is designed to be worn on the body. □  …wearable technology.

wear and tear /weə r ən teə ^r / N‑UNCOUNT Wear and tear is the damage or change that is caused to something when it is being used normally. □ [+ on ] …the problem of wear and tear on the equipment in the harsh desert conditions.

wear|er /weə rə ^r / (wearers ) N‑COUNT [n N ] You can use wearer to indicate that someone is wearing a certain thing on a particular occasion or that they often wear a certain thing. □  These suits are designed to protect the wearer from cold shock as they enter the water. □  The mascara is suitable for contact lens wearers. [Also + of ]

wear|ing /weə r I ŋ/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that a situation or activity is wearing , you mean that it requires a lot of energy and makes you feel mentally or physically tired. □  She finds the continual confrontation very wearing.

wea|ri|some /w I ə r I səm/ ADJ If you describe something as wearisome , you mean that it is very tiring and boring or frustrating. [FORMAL ] □  …a long and wearisome journey. □  Sympathising with him eventually becomes somewhat wearisome.

wea|ry /w I ə ri/ (wearies , wearying , wearied , wearier , weariest )

1 ADJ If you are weary , you are very tired. □  Rachel looked pale and weary. □  …a weary traveller.

2 ADJ If you are weary of something, you have become tired of it and have lost your enthusiasm for it. □ [+ of ] They're getting awfully weary of this silly war.

3 VERB If you weary of something or it wearies you, you become tired of it and lose your enthusiasm for it. [FORMAL ] □ [V + of ] The public had wearied of his repeated warnings of a revolution that never seemed to start. □ [V n] The political hysteria soon wearied him and he dropped the newspaper to the floor.

wea|sel /wiː z ^ə l/ (weasels ) N‑COUNT A weasel is a small wild animal with a long thin body, a tail, short legs, and reddish-brown fur.

weath|er ◆◆◇ /we ðə ^r / (weathers , weathering , weathered )

1 N‑UNCOUNT The weather is the condition of the atmosphere in one area at a particular time, for example if it is raining, hot, or windy. □  The weather was bad. □  I like cold weather. □  Fishing is possible in virtually any weather. □  …the weather conditions.

2 VERB If something such as wood or rock weathers or is weathered , it changes colour or shape as a result of the wind, sun, rain, or cold. □ [V ] Unpainted wooden furniture weathers to a grey colour. □ [be V -ed] This rock has been weathered and eroded. [Also V n] ●  weath|ered ADJ □  The facade of the building was a little weathered. □  The man had a worn, weathered face.

3 VERB If you weather a difficult time or a difficult situation, you survive it and are able to continue normally after it has passed or ended. □ [V n] The government has weathered its worst political crisis.

4to weather the storm → see storm