Fret

Quick meaning: Fret is a verb meaning (transitive, obsolete or poetic) Especially when describing animals: to consume, devour, or eat.

Meaning

(transitive, obsolete or poetic) Especially when describing animals: to consume, devour, or eat.

More Meanings

1. (transitive) To chafe or irritate; to worry.
2. (transitive) To make rough, to agitate or disturb; to cause to ripple.
3. (transitive) In the form fret out: to squander, to waste.
4. (ambitransitive) To gnaw; to consume, to eat away.
5. (ambitransitive) To mine by agitating or eating away at (ore in the bank of a river).
6. (ambitransitive) To be chafed or irritated; to be angry or vexed; to utter peevish expressions through irritation or worry.
7. (intransitive) To be worn away; to chafe; to fray.

Example Sentences

to fret the surface of water

Their hearts alreadie fretted and cankered at the very roote, for the last disgrace received.

And could we let a Light into their Bosoms, we should see them generally fretted and cankered with this secret and corroding Venom.

A Perſon of Honour, of a full Body abounding with ſharp Humours, was ſeized with an Herpes on his right Leg. [...] [I]t inflamed and ſwelled very much, many Wheals aroſe, and fretted one into another, with great Excoriation.

Word Forms

• frets
• fretting
• fretted
• fretten

Synonyms for fret

Depending on context, synonyms include gall, gag, chafe, fray, niggle, fuss.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include rub, chafe, erode, scratch, lather, sweat.

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