use

use
I. noun Etymology: Middle English us, from Anglo-French, from Latin usus, from uti to use Date: 13th century 1. a. the act or practice of employing something ; employment, application <
he made good use of his spare time
>
b. the fact or state of being used <
a dish in daily use
>
c. a method or manner of employing or applying something <
gained practice in the use of the camera
>
2. a. (1) habitual or customary usage (2) an individual habit or group custom b. a liturgical form or observance; especially a liturgy having modifications peculiar to a local church or religious order 3. a. the privilege or benefit of using something <
gave him the use of her car
>
b. the ability or power to use something (as a limb or faculty) c. the legal enjoyment of property that consists in its employment, occupation, exercise, or practice <
she had the use of the estate for life
>
4. a. a particular service or end <
put learning to practical use
>
b. the quality of being suitable for employment <
saving things that might be of use
>
c. good 2b <
it's no use arguing
>
d. the occasion or need to employ <
took only what they had use for
>
5. a. the benefit in law of one or more persons; specifically the benefit or profit of property established in one other than the legal possessor b. a legal arrangement by which such benefits and profits are so established 6. a favorable attitude ; liking <
had no use for modern art
>
II. verb (used; using) Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. archaic accustom, habituate 2. to put into action or service ; avail oneself of ; employ 3. to consume or take (as liquor or drugs) regularly 4. to carry out a purpose or action by means of ; utilize; also manipulate 2b <
used him selfishly
>
5. to expend or consume by putting to use — often used with up 6. to behave toward ; act with regard to ; treat <
used the prisoners cruelly
>
7. stand 1d <
the house could use a coat of paint
>
intransitive verb 1. — used in the past with to to indicate a former fact or state <
we used to go more often
>
<
didn't use to smoke
>
2. to take illicit drugs regularly Synonyms: use, employ, utilize mean to put into service especially to attain an end. use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end <
willing to use any means to achieve her ends
>
. employ suggests the use of a person or thing that is available but idle, inactive, or disengaged <
looking for better ways to employ their skills
>
. utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something <
an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter
>
.

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • use — use …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • usé — usé …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • use — 1 / yüs/ n 1 a: an arrangement in which property is granted to another with the trust and confidence that the grantor or another is entitled to the beneficial enjoyment of it see also trust; statute of uses in the important laws section ◇ Uses… …   Law dictionary

  • Use — Use, n. [OE. us use, usage, L. usus, from uti, p. p. usus, to use. See {Use}, v. t.] [1913 Webster] 1. The act of employing anything, or of applying it to one s service; the state of being so employed or applied; application; employment;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • usé — usé, ée [ yze ] adj. • 1508; « accoutumé, usité » 1165; de user 1 ♦ Altéré par un usage prolongé, par des actions physiques. ⇒ détérioré; vieux. Vêtements, tissus usés. ⇒ avachi, déchiré, déformé, défraîchi, fatigué, mûr, 2. râpé. Loc. Usé jusqu… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Use — Use, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Used}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Using}.] [OE. usen, F. user to use, use up, wear out, LL. usare to use, from L. uti, p. p. usus, to use, OL. oeti, oesus; of uncertain origin. Cf. {Utility}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To make use of; to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • use — n 1 Use, service, advantage, profit, account, avail can all mean a useful or valuable end, result, or purpose. Use stresses either employment for some purpose or end of practical value {turn every scrap of material to use} or the practical value… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • use — [yo͞oz; ] for n. [ yo͞os] vt. used [yo͞ozd; ] with [ “] to [, ] usually [ yo͞os′tə] using [ME usen < OFr user < VL * usare < L usus, pp. of uti, to use] 1. to put or bring into action or service; employ for or apply to a given purpose 2 …   English World dictionary

  • usé — usé, ée (u zé, zée) part. passé d user. 1°   Qui a subi détérioration, diminution par l usage, par le frottement. Sur cette pierre usée un lugubre flambeau Semble de son feu pâle éclairer un tombeau, M. J. CHÉN., Fénelon, II, 3 De quel éclat… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Use — Use, v. i. 1. To be wont or accustomed; to be in the habit or practice; as, he used to ride daily; now disused in the present tense, perhaps because of the similarity in sound, between use to, and used to. [1913 Webster] They use to place him… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Use Me — may be:* The Use Me EP Songs and single song recordings: * Use Me (Bill Withers song), 1972 song by Bill Withers * Use Me (Ron Kenoly song), c. 1994 Gospel song by Ron Kenoly * Use Me (Garbage song), c. 2002 song by Garbage * Use Me (Kid… …   Wikipedia

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