资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Fret \Fret\ (fr[e^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fretted}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Fretting}.] [OE. freten to eat, consume; AS. fretan,
   for foretan; pref. for- + etan to eat; akin to D. vreten,
   OHG. frezzan, G. fressen, Sw. fr["a]ta, Goth. fra-itan. See
   {For}, and {Eat}, v. t.]
   1. To devour. [Obs.]

            The sow frete the child right in the cradle.
                                                  --Chaucer.

   2. To rub; to wear away by friction; to chafe; to gall;
      hence, to eat away; to gnaw; as, to fret cloth; to fret a
      piece of gold or other metal; a worm frets the plants of a
      ship.

            With many a curve my banks I fret.    --Tennyson.

   3. To impair; to wear away; to diminish.

            By starts His fretted fortunes give him hope and
            fear.                                 --Shak.

   4. To make rough, agitate, or disturb; to cause to ripple;
      as, to fret the surface of water.

   5. To tease; to irritate; to vex.

            Fret not thyself because of evil doers. --Ps.
                                                  xxxvii. 1.

资料来源 : WordNet®

fretting
     See {fret}

fret
     n 1: agitation resulting from active worry; "don't get in a
          stew"; "he's in a sweat about exams" [syn: {stew}, {sweat},
           {lather}, {swither}]
     2: a spot that has been worn away by abrasion or erosion [syn:
        {worn spot}]
     3: an ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and
        horizonal lines (often in relief); "there was a simple
        fret at the top of the walls" [syn: {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
     [also: {fretting}, {fretted}]

fret
     v 1: worry unnecessarily or excessively; "don't fuss too much
          over the grandchildren--they are quite big now" [syn: {fuss},
           {niggle}]
     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}]
     5: cause annoyance in
     6: gnaw into; make resentful or angry; "The unjustice rankled
        her"; "his resentment festered" [syn: {eat into}, {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}]
     10: cause friction; "my sweater scratches" [syn: {rub}, {fray},
         {chafe}, {scratch}]
     11: remove soil or rock; "Rain eroded the terraces" [syn: {erode},
          {eat away}]
     12: wear away or erode [syn: {eat away}]
     [also: {fretting}, {fretted}]