- (usually in compounds) used especially in shops to describe clothes for a particular purpose or occasion
- casual/evening wear
- children’s/ladies’ wear
Homophones ware | wear | whereware wear where/weə(r)//wer/- ware noun
- The products include porcelain and ceramic ware.
- wear verb
- Don't wear that jacket—it's far too big!
- wear noun
- Comfortable and smart, this jacket is suitable for office wear.
- where adverb
- Where are you going on your next adventure?
- where conjunction
- He was free to go where he liked.
Extra ExamplesTopics Clothes and Fashionb2- The fashion show was split into two sections, displaying formal and casual wear.
- We headed straight for the children's wear department.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- day
- evening
- designer
- …
- the fact of wearing something
- casual clothes for everyday wear
- These woollen suits are not designed for wear in hot climates.
Synonyms clothesclothesclothing ▪ garment ▪ dress ▪ wear ▪ gearThese are all words for the things that you wear, such as shirts, jackets, dresses and trousers.clothes [pl.] the things that you wear, such as shirts, jackets, dresses and trousers.clothing [U] (rather formal) clothes, especially a particular type of clothes:- warm clothing
- He was wearing a strange shapeless garment.
- We were allowed to wear casual dress on Fridays.
- the children’s wear department
- Her friends were all wearing the latest designer gear.
- casual clothes/clothing/dress/wear/gear
- evening/formal clothes/dress/wear
- designer/sports clothes/clothing/garments/wear/gear
- children’s/men’s/women’s clothes/clothing/garments/wear
- to have on/be in/wear …clothes/garments/dress/gear
Extra ExamplesTopics Clothes and Fashionb2- New shoes usually get more comfortable with wear.
- Silk shirts always feel soft and light in wear.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- daily
- everyday
- weekend
- …
- with wear
- years of wear
- the amount or type of use that something has over a period of time
- You should get years of wear out of that carpet.
Extra Examples- This flooring can withstand years of hard wear.
- The stairs had become slippery with wear.
- The cathedral steps were polished smooth by centuries of wear.
- This is a quality garment which should give years of wear.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- hard
- heavy
- withstand
- with wear
- centuries, years, etc. of wear
- the damage or loss of quality that is caused when something has been used a lot
- His shoes were beginning to show signs of wear.
- The machines have to be checked regularly for wear.
Extra Examples- the analysis of wear patterns on prehistoric stone tools
- This new oil reduces wear on the engine.
- The flooring comes with a 20-year wear guarantee.
- The cushions were beginning to show wear.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- excessive
- brake
- engine
- …
- show
- cause
- minimize
- …
- wear on
- signs of wear
- wear and tear
clothing
use
damage
Word OriginOld English werian, of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin vestis ‘clothing’.
Idioms
See wear in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee wear in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishwear and tear
- the damage to objects, furniture, property, etc. that is the result of normal use
- The insurance policy does not cover damage caused by normal wear and tear.
- The living-room carpet has to stand up to the combined wear and tear of two dogs and three children.
More Like This Rhyming pairs in idiomsRhyming pairs in idioms
the worse for wear (informal)
- in a poor condition because of being used a lot
- drunk
- He arrived home at two in the morning, much the worse for wear.
Check pronunciation:
wear