use

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Pronunciation 1.2.2 Noun 1.2.2.1 Synonyms 1.2.2.2 Derived terms 1.2.2.3 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Pronunciation 1.3.2 Verb 1.3.2.1 Synonyms 1.3.2.2 Derived terms 1.3.2.3 Translations 1.4 References 2 Spanish 2.1 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

• uſe (archaic)

[edit] Etymology 1

From Middle English use from Old French us, from Latin usus (“‘use, custom, skill, habit’”), from past partiiple stem of uti (“‘use’”). Replaced native Middle English note, nutte "use" from Old English notu, nytt.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: yo͞os, IPA: /juːs/, SAMPA: /ju:s/
• (US) enPR: yo͞os, IPA: /jus/, SAMPA: /jus/

   Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -uːs

[edit] Noun

use (plural uses)

1. The act of using.

   The use of torture has been condemned by the United Nations.

   There is no use for your invention.

2. (uncountable, followed by "of") Usefulness, benefit.

   What's the use of a law that nobody abides to?

3. A function; a purpose for which something may be employed.

   This tool has many uses.

[edit] Synonyms

• (act of using): employment, usage
• (usefulness): benefit, good, point, usefulness, utility

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

From Middle English usen from Old French user (“‘use, employ, practice’”) from Vulgar Latin *usare "use", frequentative form of past participle stem of Latin uti (“‘to use’”). Replaced native Middle English noten, nutten "to use" (from Old English notian, nēotan, nyttian) and Middle English brouken, bruken "to use, enjoy" (from Old English brūcan).

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: yo͞oz, IPA: /juːz/, SAMPA: /ju:z/
• (US) enPR: yo͞oz, IPA: /juz/, SAMPA: /juz/

 Audio (US)^{help, file}

Rhymes: -uːz

Homophones: ewes, yews, yous, youse

[edit] Verb

to use (third-person singular simple present uses, present participle using, simple past and past participle used)

1. (archaic) To accustom; to habituate.
2. (transitive) To employ; to apply; to utilize.

   Use this knife to slice the bread.

   We can use this mathematical formula to solve the problem.

3. (transitive, often with “up”) To exhaust the supply of; to consume by employing

   We should use up most of the fuel.

4. (transitive) To exploit.
5. (intransitive, obsolete except in past, with "to" infinitive) To be accustomed.

[edit] Synonyms

• (employ, apply, utilize): engage, utilise
• (exploit): take advantage of

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• use in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

---

[edit] Spanish

[edit] Verb

use (infinitive: usar)

1. formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of usar.
2. first-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of usar.
3. formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of usar.
4. third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of usar.