Library / English Dictionary

USE

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage

Example:

his manipulation of his friends was scandalous

Synonyms:

manipulation; use

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):

influence (causing something without any direct or apparent effort)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):

mind game (deliberate actions of calculated psychological manipulation intended to intimidate or confuse (usually for competitive advantage))

Derivation:

use (seek or achieve an end by using to one's advantage)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition

Example:

long use had hardened him to it

Synonyms:

habit; use

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):

custom; usage; usance (accepted or habitual practice)

Domain category:

psychological science; psychology (the science of mental life)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):

ritual (stereotyped behavior)

second nature (acquired behavior that is practiced so long it seems innate)

cleanliness (the habit of keeping free of superficial imperfections)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of using

Example:

skilled in the utilization of computers

Synonyms:

employment; exercise; usage; use; utilisation; utilization

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):

activity (any specific behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):

practice (the exercise of a profession)

play (utilization or exercise)

abuse; misuse (improper or excessive use)

development; exploitation (the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful)

recycling (the act of processing used or abandoned materials for use in creating new products)

application; practical application (the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose)

Derivation:

use (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)

use (take or consume (regularly or habitually))

Sense 4

Meaning:

What something is used for

Example:

ballet is beautiful but what use is it?

Synonyms:

function; purpose; role; use

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):

usefulness; utility (the quality of being of practical use)

Attribute:

functional (designed for or capable of a particular function or use)

nonfunctional (not having or performing a function)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):

raison d'etre (the purpose that justifies a thing's existence)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A particular service

Example:

patrons have their uses

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):

usefulness; utility (the quality of being of practical use)

Derivation:

use (avail oneself to)

Sense 6

Meaning:

(law) the exercise of the legal right to enjoy the benefits of owning property

Example:

we were given the use of his boat

Synonyms:

enjoyment; use

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):

legal right (a right based in law)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):

fair use (the conditions under which you can use material that is copyrighted by someone else without paying royalties)

fruition (enjoyment derived from use or possession)

Sense 7

Meaning:

(economics) the utilization of economic goods to satisfy needs or in manufacturing

Example:

the consumption of energy has increased steadily

Synonyms:

consumption; economic consumption; usance; use; use of goods and services

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("use" is a kind of...):

demand (the ability and desire to purchase goods and services)

Domain category:

economic science; economics; political economy (the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "use"):

conspicuous consumption (buying expensive services and products in order to flaunt your wealth)

Derivation:

use (use up, consume fully)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Use up, consume fully

Example:

The legislature expended its time on school questions

Synonyms:

expend; use

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

"Use" entails doing...:

consume; deplete; eat; eat up; exhaust; run through; use up; wipe out (use up (resources or materials))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "use"):

blow; squander; waste (spend thoughtlessly; throw away)

occupy; take; use up (require (time or space))

spare (use frugally or carefully)

abuse (use wrongly or improperly or excessively)

abuse; misuse; pervert (change the inherent purpose or function of something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They use the money

Also:

use up (use up (resources or materials))

Derivation:

use ((economics) the utilization of economic goods to satisfy needs or in manufacturing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

Example:

He doesn't know how to use a computer

Synonyms:

apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Cause:

apply; go for; hold (be pertinent or relevant or applicable)

Verb group:

apply; practice; use (avail oneself to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "use"):

fall back; recur; resort (have recourse to)

implement (apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design)

put to work; work (cause to work)

share (use jointly or in common)

take (travel or go by means of a certain kind of transportation, or a certain route)

enjoy (have benefit from)

exercise; exert (put to use)

extend; strain (use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity)

exploit; tap (draw from; make good use of)

exploit; work (use or manipulate to one's advantage)

recycle; reprocess; reuse (use again after processing)

cannibalise; cannibalize (use parts of something to repair something else)

overdrive; overuse (make use of too often or too extensively)

avail (use to one's advantage)

misapply; misuse (apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly)

waste (use inefficiently or inappropriately)

address (address or apply oneself to something, direct one's efforts towards something, such as a question)

ply (use diligently)

assign; put (attribute or give)

pull out all the stops (use all resources available)

play (use or move)

play (employ in a game or in a specific position)

commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give (give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They use the animals

Derivation:

user (a person who makes use of a thing; someone who uses or employs something)

useable (capable of being put to use)

useable (fit or ready for use or service)

useable (convenient for use or disposal)

use; usage (the act of using)

usable (capable of being put to use)

usable (fit or ready for use or service)

usable (convenient for use or disposal)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Take or consume (regularly or habitually)

Example:

She uses drugs rarely

Synonyms:

habituate; use

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "use" is one way to...):

consume; have; ingest; take; take in (serve oneself to, or consume regularly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "use"):

smoke (inhale and exhale smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes)

do drugs; drug (use recreational drugs)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

use (the act of using)

user (a person who takes drugs)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Habitually do something or be in a certan state or place (use only in the past tense)

Example:

she used to be his best friend and now they are enemies

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "use" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

usage (accepted or habitual practice)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Avail oneself to

Example:

practice non-violent resistance

Synonyms:

apply; practice; use

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Verb group:

apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "use"):

follow (adhere to or practice)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

usance (accepted or habitual practice)

use (a particular service)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Seek or achieve an end by using to one's advantage

Example:

The president's wife used her good connections

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "use" is one way to...):

exploit; work (use or manipulate to one's advantage)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "use"):

take advantage; trespass (make excessive use of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They use him to write the letter

Derivation:

use (exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage)

user (a person who uses something or someone selfishly or unethically)

using (an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly))

Credits

 Context examples: 

But, in general, I can assure you that they are all passed over, and all very ill used.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

No use of such questions as that but to produce ill feeling.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

"It's no use! Do the best you can when the time comes, and if the audience laughs, don't blame me. Come on, Meg."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He has been used to her in these complaints, and I hope to-morrow morning will bring us both a more comfortable report.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The old man returned to the cottage, and the youth, with tools different from those he had used in the morning, directed his steps across the fields.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I don't think I shall ever be afraid of you again, Bessie, because I have got used to you, and I shall soon have another set of people to dread.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"To such base uses do we come," said Lord John, smiling.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Oh dear me, I should like to buy very much, but I have no money: if you had any use for yellow buttons, I might deal with you.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The Press, Watson, is a most valuable institution, if you only know how to use it.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I used to walk here so often with her! added Eleanor; though I never loved it then, as I have loved it since.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)