Definitions for the word "use" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. v. t.
The act of employing anything, or of applying it to one's service; the state of being so employed or applied; application; employment; conversion to some purpose; as, the use of a pen in writing; his machines are in general use.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. v. t.
Occasion or need to employ; necessity; as, to have no further use for a book.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. v. t.
Yielding of service; advantage derived; capability of being used; usefulness; utility.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. v. t.
Continued or repeated practice; customary employment; usage; custom; manner; habit.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. v. t.
Common occurrence; ordinary experience.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. v. t.
The special form of ritual adopted for use in any diocese; as, the Sarum, or Canterbury, use; the Hereford use; the York use; the Roman use; etc.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. v. t.
The premium paid for the possession and employment of borrowed money; interest; usury.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. v. t.
The benefit or profit of lands and tenements. Use imports a trust and confidence reposed in a man for the holding of lands. He to whose use or benefit the trust is intended shall enjoy the profits. An estate is granted and limited to A for the use of B.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. v. t.
A stab of iron welded to the side of a forging, as a shaft, near the end, and afterward drawn down, by hammering, so as to lengthen the forging.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. v. t.
To make use of; to convert to one's service; to avail one's self of; to employ; to put a purpose; as, to use a plow; to use a chair; to use time; to use flour for food; to use water for irrigation.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. v. t.
To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat; as, to use a beast cruelly.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. v. t.
To practice customarily; to make a practice of; as, to use diligence in business.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
13. v. t.
To accustom; to habituate; to render familiar by practice; to inure; -- employed chiefly in the passive participle; as, men used to cold and hunger; soldiers used to hardships and danger.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
14. v. i.
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."
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
15. v. i.
To be accustomed to go; to frequent; to inhabit; to dwell; -- sometimes followed by of.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
16. v.
(using) 1 cause to act or serve for a purpose; bring into service. 2 treat in a specified manner (used him shamefully). 3 exploit for one''s own ends. 4 did or had habitually (i used to drink; it used not (or did not use) to rain so often). 5 (as used adj.) Second-hand. 6 (as used predic. Adj.) (foll. By to) familiar by habit; accustomed (used to hard work). n. 1 using or being used. 2 right or power of using (lost the use of his legs). 3 benefit, advantage (a torch would be of use; it''s no use talking). 4 custom or usage (established by long use). have no use for 1 not need. 2 dislike, be contemptuous of. In use being used. Make use of 1 use. 2 benefit from. Out of use not being used. Use up 1 consume completely. 2 find a use for (leftovers etc.). [french us, user, ultimately from latin utor us-]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
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