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Glite Dictionary
👕 Having on body 🪨 Erosion or abrasion 😩 Tiring or exhausting
wearing

wearing

5.8
Slow loss of material as water or wind rubs it
  • noun
  • /ˈwɛrɪŋ/
translation icon : erosión
  • The constant wearing of the rocks by the waves created a beautiful shoreline.

Examples

  • The wearing of the soil over time made the valley more fertile.

  • After years of wear and tear, the wearing of the old bridge became a safety concern.

  • What like I I'm generally pro mask wearing on the grounds that it seems to make sense.

  • But the latest summary of all the studies shows that proper mask wearing does reduce risk of infection significantly.

Synonyms

erosion
vswearing
  • Specialized
34 3.7

The gradual wearing away of land, rock, and other materials by forces such as water or wind

applies to gradual reduction in many settings, not only geological materials
eating away
vswearing
7 4.9

Slow wearing away of something by natural forces or repeated harm

focuses on physical gradual smoothing or removal by natural forces
abrasion
vswearing
4 6.1

The gradual wearing away of a surface by rubbing or scraping

covers more general gradual reduction by friction, pressure, or repeated action
wearing away
vswearing
  • Specialized
5.1

Slow loss of a surface by water, wind, or rubbing

uses a shorter form without the extra directional word

Compounds

long-wearing
1 3.7

Able to last a long time without breaking or fading

wearing apparel
1 2.8

Clothes people put on to cover their body

wearing away
  • Specialized
5.1

Slow loss of a surface by water, wind, or rubbing

How Worn

erosion
  • Specialized
34 3.7
abrasion
4 6.1
wearing
5.8
scuff
8 2.6
scratch
203 1.6

Surface Forms

wearing singular
wearings plural

Morphology

wearing = wear (semi-transparent) = wear + ing

Formally a nominalization of the verb 'to wear' (to be worn away), but the specific geological/abrasive sense may be less obvious to learners who only know the 'clothing' sense.

Etymology

Wearing here comes from the same old verb wear, with the idea 'to rub away'. Think of the phrase wear and tear: constant use or water and wind slowly remove material, so 'wearing' means being slowly reduced or smoothed by friction.