fret

/frɛt/
noun
  1. A state of worry or agitation.
    • His constant fret over money kept him awake at night.
    • The child's fret over the lost toy was soon forgotten.
    • She was in a fret about the upcoming presentation.
  2. One of the raised bars on the neck of a stringed instrument (such as a guitar) that help produce different notes.
    • She learned to slide her hand smoothly across the frets.
    • The guitar's frets were worn from years of playing.
    • He pressed his finger firmly on the third fret.
verb
  1. To feel or express worry, anxiety, or discontent.
    • Don't fret about the test; you studied hard.
    • She fretted over the small mistake for hours.
    • He frets whenever his flight is delayed.
  2. To wear away or erode something by rubbing or gnawing.
    • The dog fretted the bone until it was smooth.
    • The constant wind fretted the surface of the old statue.
    • Water dripping from the roof fretted a groove in the stone step.
Antonyms