noun · verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˌwɛəɹ‿ən ˈtɛə/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˌwɛɹ‿ən ˈtɛ(ə)ɹ/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛə(ɹ)
1
noun
Meaning 1
Physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; specifically (accounting, law), as justifying a write-down of the object's value in a set of accounts, or exclusion of compensation for the object under a warranty of quality.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Examples
The washing machine flooded the basement due to wear and tear, so Margaret was not eligible to claim compensation from the manufacturer.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tear and wear
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; specifically (accounting, law), as justifying a write-down of the object's value in a set of accounts, or exclusion of compensation for the object under a warranty of quality.
The process by which such physical damage is caused.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Examples
The structural integrity of the bridge has been compromised by constant wear and tear.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tear and wear
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; specifically (accounting, law), as justifying a write-down of the object's value in a set of accounts, or exclusion of compensation for the object under a warranty of quality.
The cost payable for such physical damage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tear and wear
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Damage or deterioration caused to something intangible due to harsh conditions, the passing of time, etc.; also, the process by which such damage or deterioration is caused.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
One's ability to endure harsh conditions; resilience, toughness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To cause (something) physical damage due to ordinary use over time; to wear (down).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To cause emotional damage to (someone's feelings, spirit, etc.).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
Of a thing: to be caused physical damage due to ordinary use over time.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
decrease in value of an asset due to obsolescence or use
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: depreciation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: non-cash expense, financial loss
Narrower terms: straight-line method, straight-line method of depreciation, write-off, write-down
History
Etymology
The noun is derived from wear (“damage caused by use over time”, noun) + and + tear (“damage caused by tearing”, noun). The verb is derived from wear (“to cause gradual deterioration in”, verb) + and + tear (“to rend by pulling apart”, verb), modelled on the noun.
Across languages
Translations
34 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
износване
(iznosvane)
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Chinese Mandarin:
磨損 /磨损
(mósǔn)
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Danish:
slitage
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Finnish:
kuluminen
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
French:
usure f normale
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
German:
Abnutzung
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
German:
Verschleiß
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Ancient Greek:
τριβή
(tribḗ)
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Hungarian:
amortizáció
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Hungarian:
elhasználódás
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Hungarian:
elkopás
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Hungarian:
kopás
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Icelandic:
slit
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Italian:
consumo
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Italian:
logoramento
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Italian:
usura
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Latin:
intertrīmentum
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Latvian:
laika zobs
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Norwegian Bokmål:
slitasje
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Norwegian Nynorsk:
slitasje
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Occitan:
abenatge
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Occitan:
usadura
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Occitan:
usança
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Occitan:
usura
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Persian:
استهلاک
(estehlâk)
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Polish:
zużycie
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Portuguese:
desgaste
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Spanish:
desgaste
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Swahili:
uchakavu
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Telugu:
అరుగుదల
(arugudala)
— physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; process by which such physical damage is caused
Finnish:
kulumiskustannus
— cost payable for such physical damage
Finnish:
kuluminen
— damage or deterioration caused to something intangible due to harsh conditions, the passing of time, etc.; process by which such damage or deterioration is caused
Finnish:
kuluttaa
— (transitive) to cause emotional damage to (someone’s feelings, etc.)
Finnish:
riuduttaa
— (transitive) to cause emotional damage to (someone’s feelings, etc.)
