tire

¹

[tahy^uhr]

verb (used with object)

tired, tiring 

1. to reduce or exhaust the strength of, as by exertion; make weary; fatigue (often followed byout ).

   The long walk tired him.

2. to exhaust the interest, patience, etc., of; make weary; bore.

   Your stories tire me.

   Synonyms: irk, exasperate

verb (used without object)

tired, tiring 

1. to have the strength reduced or exhausted, as by labor or exertion; become fatigued; be sleepy.

2. to have one's appreciation, interest, patience, etc., exhausted; become or be weary; become bored (usually followed byof ).

   He soon tired of playing billiards.

noun

1. British Dialect.,  fatigue.

tire

²

British, tyre

[tahy^uhr]

noun

1. a ring or band of rubber, either solid or hollow and inflated, or of metal, placed over the rim of a wheel to provide traction, resistance to wear, or other desirable properties.

2. a metal band attached to the outside of the felloes and forming the tread of a wagon wheel.

verb (used with object)

tired, tiring 

1. to furnish with tires.

tire

³

[tahy^uhr]

verb (used with object)

tired, tiring 

1. Archaic.,  to dress (the head or hair), especially with a headdress.

2. Obsolete.,  to attire or array.

noun

1. Archaic.,  a headdress.

2. Obsolete.,  attire or dress.

tire

¹

/ ˈtaɪə /

verb

1. (tr) to reduce the energy of, esp by exertion; weary

2. (tr; often passive) to reduce the tolerance of; bore or irritate

   I'm tired of the children's chatter

3. (intr) to become wearied or bored; flag

tire

²

/ ˈtaɪə /

noun

1. the US spelling of tyre

tire

³

/ ˈtaɪə /

verb

1. an archaic word for attire

Other Word Forms

• tiring adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tire¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English tire(n), teoren “to diminish, weaken,” Old English tȳrian, tēorian “to faint, cause to faint”; further etymology uncertain

Origin of tire²

First recorded in 1475–85; special use of tire ³ (in the sense “dress, attire, accouterment (for a wheel”)

Origin of tire³

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English tire(n), teren “to clothe, dress, equip (a knight) for battle”; shortening of attire

Word History and Origins

Origin of tire¹

Old English tēorian, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Without new revelations, the public will eventually tire of this story - or it will be buried by a new scandal, conflict or media frenzy.

From BBC

The memoir took her two years, but she says the act of writing is what keeps her alive: "Did you imagine how tired I would be if I wasn't writing? That would kill me."

From BBC

Swiftly tiring of life in the military, he found a job as a window dresser at La Rinascente - a department store in Milan - where he moved swiftly through the ranks.

From BBC

It was more than halfway through the season, they were tired and it was a real testament to their resilience and professionalism that they really just went for it.

From Los Angeles Times

In his programme notes he described this summer's India Test series as "certainly the most tiring" he has been a part of.

From BBC

Related Words

• annoy 
• bore 
• depress 
• disgust 
• dishearten 
• dispirit 
• displease 
• drain 
• exasperate 
• fail 
• fatigue 
• irk 
• irritate 
• jade 
• overwork 
• wear 
• worry