Fret - Definition

n 1: agitation resulting from active worry; "don't get in a
stew"; "he's in a sweat about exams" [syn: fret, stew,
sweat, lather, swither]
2: a spot that has been worn away by abrasion or erosion [syn:
worn spot, fret]
3: an ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and
horizontal lines (often in relief); "there was a simple fret
at the top of the walls" [syn: fret, Greek fret, Greek
key, key pattern]
4: a small bar of metal across the fingerboard of a musical
instrument; when the string is stopped by a finger at the
metal bar it will produce a note of the desired pitch
v 1: worry unnecessarily or excessively; "don't fuss too much
over the grandchildren--they are quite big now" [syn:
fuss, niggle, fret]
2: be agitated or irritated; "don't fret over these small
details"
3: provide (a musical instrument) with frets; "fret a guitar"
4: become or make sore by or as if by rubbing [syn: chafe,
gall, fret]
5: cause annoyance in
6: gnaw into; make resentful or angry; "The injustice rankled
her"; "his resentment festered" [syn: eat into, fret,
rankle, grate]
7: carve a pattern into
8: decorate with an interlaced design
9: be too tight; rub or press; "This neckband is choking the
cat" [syn: choke, gag, fret]
10: cause friction; "my sweater scratches" [syn: rub, fray,
fret, chafe, scratch]
11: remove soil or rock; "Rain eroded the terraces" [syn:
erode, eat away, fret]
12: wear away or erode [syn: fret, eat away]