use

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to take or consume regularly or habitually

   I use drugs regularly.

2. 2
   verb

   to habitually do something, only in the past tense

   I used to call my parents every week but now I call only occasionally.

3. 3
   verb

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

   We use influential friends to meet influential people.

4. 4
   noun

   the act of using

   We warned against the use of narcotic drugs.

5. 5
   noun

   a particular service

   I put their knowledge to good use.

6. 6
   noun

   the exercise of the legal right to enjoy the benefits of owning property

   We were given the use of the boat.

7. 7
   noun

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

   Automobile use is up this quarter.

8. 8
   verb

   to put into service

   We used horses to patrol the streets.

Etymology

Noun from Middle English use, from Old French us, from Latin ūsus (“use, custom, skill, habit”), from past participle stem of ūtor (“use”). Displaced native Middle English note (“use”) (see note) from Old English notu; Middle English nutte (“use”) from Old English nytt; as well as Old English fricu and Old English sidu. Verb from Middle English usen, from Old French user (“use, employ, practice”), from Medieval Latin usare (“use”), frequentative form of past participle stem of Latin uti (“to use”). Displaced native Middle English noten, nutten (“to use”) (from Old English notian, nēotan, nytti…