noun |
1. The act of using; the application or employment of something for a purpose: with the use of a calculator; skilled in the use of the bow and arrow. |
2. The condition or fact of being used: a chair in regular use. |
3. The manner of using; usage: learned the proper use of power tools. |
4. The permission, privilege, or benefit of using something: gave us the use of their summerhouse. |
5. The power or ability to use something: lost the use of one arm. |
6. The need or occasion to use or employ: have no use for these old clothes. |
7. The quality of being suitable or adaptable to an end; usefulness: tried to be of use in the kitchen. |
8. A purpose for which something is used: a tool with several uses; a pretty bowl, but of what use is it? |
9. Accustomed or usual procedure or practice. |
10. Law Enjoyment of property, as by occupying or exercising it. |
11. Law The benefit or profit of lands and tenements of which the legal title and possession are vested in another. |
12. Law The arrangement establishing the equitable right to such benefits and profits. |
13. A liturgical form practiced in a particular church, ecclesiastical district, or community. |
14. Obsolete Usual occurrence or experience. |
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phrasal-verb |
1. use up To consume completely: used up all our money. |
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verb-intransitive |
1. Used in the past tense followed by to in order to indicate a former state, habitual practice, or custom: Mail service used to be faster. |
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verb-transitive |
1. To put into service or apply for a purpose; employ. |
2. To avail oneself of; practice: use caution. |
3. To conduct oneself toward; treat or handle: "the peace offering of a man who once used you unkindly” ( Laurence Sterne). |
4. To seek or achieve an end by means of; exploit: used their highly placed friends to gain access to the president; felt he was being used by seekers of favor. |
5. To take or consume; partake of: She rarely used alcohol. |
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