use

use: use

1. The transitive verb meaning ‘to make use of’ is pronounced yooz and the past form is used (yoozd). The corresponding noun use is pronounced yoos.

2. Used is pronounced yoost and followed by to in a number of special constructions:

a) Be or become or get used to + noun or verbal noun means ‘be (etc.) accustomed to or familiar with’: She had got used to the sissy…thin-blooded climate of Auckland —D. M. Davin, 1986
/ He still isn't used to her being old enough to drive —New Yorker, 1987
/ He…became used to collectors visiting the family home in the early 1950s to record his mother's folk songs —Independent, 2007
.

b) Use to (usually in the form used to or had used to) + infinitive refers to what happened or existed in the past but does no longer at the time referred to: She had used to squat with old Mataka on the ground —Muriel Spark, 1969
/ I know what you're thinking, Patrick, and I used to think it too —Kingsley Amis, 1988
. Negatives and questions are formed with do + the use form (What time did she use to return? —L. Thomas, 1972 / I didn't use to curse or swear at them —M. Brogden, 1991
) or, with somewhat more formal effect, directly with not or by inversion in the manner of the semi-modal verbs dare and need (I used not to dream —Nina Bawden, 1987 / She used not to be so censorious of others' behaviour —T. Barnes, 1991
). The form usedn't (or usen't) is also found in casual English but is less suitable in more formal contexts.

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Use — Use, n. [OE. us use, usage, L. usus, from uti, p. p. usus, to use. See {Use}, v. t.] [1913 Webster] 1. The act of employing anything, or of applying it to one s service; the state of being so employed or applied; application; employment;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Use — Use, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Used}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Using}.] [OE. usen, F. user to use, use up, wear out, LL. usare to use, from L. uti, p. p. usus, to use, OL. oeti, oesus; of uncertain origin. Cf. {Utility}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To make use of; to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Use — Use, v. i. 1. To be wont or accustomed; to be in the habit or practice; as, he used to ride daily; now disused in the present tense, perhaps because of the similarity in sound, between use to, and used to. [1913 Webster] They use to place him… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Use Me — may be:* The Use Me EP Songs and single song recordings: * Use Me (Bill Withers song), 1972 song by Bill Withers * Use Me (Ron Kenoly song), c. 1994 Gospel song by Ron Kenoly * Use Me (Garbage song), c. 2002 song by Garbage * Use Me (Kid… … Wikipedia
Use — may refer to:* Use (law), an obligation on a person to whom property has been conveyed * Use mention distinction, the distinction between using a word and mentioning it See also * USE … Wikipedia
USE — or U.S.E. can refer to: * United States of Europe , a name for a fictional unification of European countries ** The fictional United States of Europe in the alternate history novel 1632 and the following 1632 book series * United States of Earth … Wikipedia
use — I. noun Etymology: Middle English us, from Anglo French, from Latin usus, from uti to use Date: 13th century 1. a. the act or practice of employing something ; employment, application < he made good use of his spare time > b. the fact or state of … New Collegiate Dictionary
use — See: NO USE, PUT TO USE … Dictionary of American idioms
use up — {v. phr.} 1. To use until nothing is left; spend or consume completely. * /Don t use up all the soap. Leave me some to wash with./ * /Jack used up his last dollar to see the movies./ Compare: GIVE OUT(5). 2. {informal} To tire completely; make… … Dictionary of American idioms
use — See: NO USE, PUT TO USE … Dictionary of American idioms
use up — {v. phr.} 1. To use until nothing is left; spend or consume completely. * /Don t use up all the soap. Leave me some to wash with./ * /Jack used up his last dollar to see the movies./ Compare: GIVE OUT(5). 2. {informal} To tire completely; make… … Dictionary of American idioms

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