/ English Dictionary

FRET

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: fretted    , fretting   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("fret" is a kind of...):

bar (a rigid piece of metal or wood; usually used as a fastening or obstruction or weapon)

Derivation:

fret (provide (a musical instrument) with frets)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines (often in relief)

Example:

there was a simple fret at the top of the walls

Synonyms:

fret; Greek fret; Greek key; key pattern

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("fret" is a kind of...):

architectural ornament ((architecture) something added to a building to improve its appearance)

Derivation:

fret (decorate with an interlaced design)

fret (carve a pattern into)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A spot that has been worn away by abrasion or erosion

Synonyms:

fret; worn spot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("fret" is a kind of...):

dapple; fleck; maculation; patch; speckle; spot (a small contrasting part of something)

Derivation:

fret (become or make sore by or as if by rubbing)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Agitation resulting from active worry

Example:

he's in a sweat about exams

Synonyms:

fret; lather; stew; sweat; swither

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("fret" is a kind of...):

agitation (a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance)

Derivation:

fret (worry unnecessarily or excessively)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Wear away or erode

Synonyms:

eat away; fret

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

corrode; rust (become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Remove soil or rock

Example:

Rain eroded the terraces

Synonyms:

eat away; erode; fret

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

damage (inflict damage upon)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fret"):

wash (form by erosion)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause friction

Example:

my sweater scratches

Synonyms:

chafe; fray; fret; rub; scratch

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

adjoin; contact; meet; touch (be in direct physical contact with; make contact)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s somebody

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be too tight; rub or press

Example:

This neckband is choking the cat

Synonyms:

choke; fret; gag

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

compact; compress; constrict; contract; press; squeeze (squeeze or press together)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 5

Meaning:

Decorate with an interlaced design

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

fret (an ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines (often in relief))

Sense 6

Meaning:

Carve a pattern into

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

carve (form by carving)

Domain category:

handicraft (a craft that requires skillful hands)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fret"):

honeycomb (carve a honeycomb pattern into)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

fret (an ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines (often in relief))

Sense 7

Meaning:

Be agitated or irritated

Example:

don't fret over these small details

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

worry (be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fret"):

dither (act nervously; be undecided; be uncertain)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue fret

Sense 8

Meaning:

Gnaw into; make resentful or angry

Example:

his resentment festered

Synonyms:

eat into; fret; grate; rankle

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

annoy; bother; chafe; devil; get at; get to; gravel; irritate; nark; nettle; rag; rile; vex (cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The bad news will fret him

Sense 9

Meaning:

Cause annoyance in

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

annoy; bother; chafe; devil; get at; get to; gravel; irritate; nark; nettle; rag; rile; vex (cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations)

Cause:

fret (be agitated or irritated)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 10

Meaning:

Worry unnecessarily or excessively

Example:

don't fuss too much over the grandchildren--they are quite big now

Synonyms:

fret; fuss; niggle

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

worry (be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fret"):

scruple (raise scruples)

dither; flap; pother (make a fuss; be agitated)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue fret over the results of the experiment

Derivation:

fret (agitation resulting from active worry)

Sense 11

Meaning:

Become or make sore by or as if by rubbing

Synonyms:

chafe; fret; gall

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

irritate (excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

fret (a spot that has been worn away by abrasion or erosion)

Sense 12

Meaning:

Provide (a musical instrument) with frets

Example:

fret a guitar

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "fret" is one way to...):

furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

fret (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)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Good-by; and, above all, do not fret until you know that you really have a cause for it.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mrs. Gummidge appeared to be fretting a little, in her old corner; and consequently looked quite natural, too.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

His first betrothed heard of this, and fretted so much about his faithfulness that she nearly died.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Well, I am happy, and I won't fret, but it does seem as if the more one gets the more one wants, doesn't it?

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Her husband involuntarily groaned as she turned to him and said lovingly: Do not fret, dear. You must be brave and strong, and help me through the horrible task.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

She has been in love with him ever since they first met, and while my father's consent was uncertain, she fretted herself almost into a fever.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

She was confident of having performed her duty, and to fret over unavoidable evils, or augment them by anxiety, was no part of her disposition.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

But meanwhile fret not thyself, my heart's dove, for it is like that there may be no war waged, and we must await the news.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Georgiana, when not unburdening her heart to me, spent most of her time in lying on the sofa, fretting about the dulness of the house, and wishing over and over again that her aunt Gibson would send her an invitation up to town.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I took Mr. Dick with me, because, acutely sensitive to my aunt's reverses, and sincerely believing that no galley-slave or convict worked as I did, he had begun to fret and worry himself out of spirits and appetite, as having nothing useful to do.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

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