fret
noun
1. agitation resulting from active worry
Similar word(s): lather, stew, sweat, swither
Definition categories: state, agitation
2. a spot that has been worn away by abrasion or erosion
Definition categories: attribute, dapple, fleck, maculation, patch, speckle, spot
3. an ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines (often in relief)
- there was a simple fret at the top of the walls
Definition categories: man–made
4. a small bar of metal across the fingerboard of a musical instrument; when the string is stopped by a finger at the metal bar it will produce a note of the desired pitch
Definition categories: man–made, bar
Sentences with fret as a noun:
- He keeps his mind in a continual fret.
verb
1. worry unnecessarily or excessively
Definition categories: emotion, worry
2. be agitated or irritated
- don't fret over these small details
Definition categories: emotion, worry
3. provide (a musical instrument) with frets
- fret a guitar
Definition categories: possession, furnish, provide, render, supply
4. become or make sore by or as if by rubbing
Definition categories: perception, irritate
5. cause annoyance in
Definition categories: emotion, annoy, bother, chafe, devil, gravel, irritate, nark, nettle, rag, rile, vex
6. gnaw into; make resentful or angry
Similar word(s): grate, rankle
Definition categories: emotion, annoy, bother, chafe, devil, gravel, irritate, nark, nettle, rag, rile, vex
7. carve a pattern into
Definition categories: creation, carve
8. decorate with an interlaced design
Definition categories: creation, adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, grace, ornament
9. be too tight; rub or press
Definition categories: contact, compact, compress, constrict, contract, press, squeeze
10. cause friction
Similar word(s): chafe, fray, rub, scratch
Definition categories: contact, adjoin, meet, touch
11. remove soil or rock
Similar word(s): erode
Definition categories: change, damage
12. wear away or erode
Definition categories: change, corrode, rust
Sentences with fret as a verb:
- A wristband frets on the edges.
- to fret the surface of water
- Rancour frets in the malignant breast.