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Frets

/fɹɛts/

Agitation of the surface of a fluid by fermentation or some other cause; a rippling on the surface of water.

📖 Definitions of "Frets"

noun
  1. 1

    Agitation of the surface of a fluid by fermentation or some other cause; a rippling on the surface of water.

  2. 2

    Agitation of the mind marked by complaint and impatience; disturbance of temper; irritation.

    "He keeps his mind in a continual fret."

  3. 3

    Herpes; tetter.

  4. 4

    (in the plural) The worn sides of riverbanks, where ores or stones containing them accumulate after being washed down from higher ground, which thus indicate to miners the locality of veins of ore.

verb
  1. 1

    Especially when describing animals: to consume, devour, or eat.

  2. 2

    To chafe or irritate; to worry.

  3. 3

    To make rough, to agitate or disturb; to cause to ripple.

    "to fret the surface of water"

  4. 4

    In the form fret out: to squander, to waste.

noun
  1. 1

    An ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines, often in relief.

  2. 2

    A saltire interlaced with a mascle.

verb
  1. 1

    To decorate or ornament, especially with an interlaced or interwoven pattern, or with carving or relief (raised) work.

  2. 2

    To form a pattern on; to variegate.

  3. 3

    To cut through with a fretsaw, to create fretwork.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Frets"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

WordDefinition
eat awayverb(figurative) To destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process.
eat intoverbTo consume gradually, especially by erosion.
rubverb(transitive) To move (one object) while maintaining contact with another object over some area, with pressure and friction.
chafenoun(transitive) To excite heat in by friction; to rub in order to stimulate and make warm.
erodeverbTo wear away by abrasion, corrosion, or chemical reaction.
scratchnounTo rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.
lathernoun(countable, uncountable) The foam made by rapidly stirring soap and water.
sweatnounFluid that exits the body through pores in the skin usually due to physical stress and/or high temperature for the purpose of regulating body temperature and removing certain compounds from the circulation.
chokeverb(intransitive) To be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe (for instance food or other objects that go down the wrong way, or fumes or particles in the air that cause the throat to constrict).
gagnounA joke or other mischievous prank.
stewnoun(uncountable, countable) A dish cooked by stewing.
gratenoun(transitive, cooking) To shred (things, usually foodstuffs), by rubbing across a grater.
rankleverb(transitive or intransitive) To cause irritation, bitterness or acrimony.
fussnoun(countable or uncountable) Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
nigglenounA minor complaint or problem.
fraynoun(transitive) (also figuratively) To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe.
swithernoun(Scotland, Northern England) To be indecisive or in a state of confusion; to dither.
gallnoun(uncountable) Impudence or brazenness; temerity; chutzpah.
repinesverb(intransitive, now literary) To complain; to regret; to fret.
stewsnoun(archaic) A brothel.

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