verb | noun
useuse1 /yuz/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1
TOOL/METHOD ETC. [transitive] to do something with a particular tool, method, service, ability, etc., in order to achieve a particular purpose, or do a particular job: Can I use your phone? Carla often doesn’t use good judgment in selecting boyfriends.easy/simple/difficult/hard to use The new computer system is easy to use.use something for (doing) something They use animals for scientific experiments.use something to do something Use a calculator to check your answers.use something as something I use the dining-room table as a desk. The officer is accused of using excessive force during the arrest (=using violent methods).THESAURUSmake use of something – to use something that is available in order to achieve something: The recipe makes use of the whole chicken.avail yourself of something formal – to use something that is offered or made available to you: He decided to avail himself of the company-provided life insurance policy.utilize formal – utilize means the same as use but is mostly used in technical language: The company has developed a new way to utilize solar energy.employ formal – to use a particular method or skill in order to achieve something: Several methods are currently employed for packaging frozen fruit.consume formal – to use oil, energy, water, and other natural products: The U.S. imports 45% of the oil that it consumes.take advantage of something – to use an opportunity in order to do what you want or need to do: We should take advantage of the nice weather and go hiking.exploit – to use something as completely and effectively as possible: The navy exploited the island’s strategic location during the war.2TAKE AMOUNT OF something [transitive] to take something from a supply of food, gas, money, etc. with the result that there is less left: Standard washing machines use about 40 gallons of water.3TREAT somebody UNFAIRLY to make someone do something for you in order to get something you want: Can’t you see Mike’s just using you?use somebody to do something They used her to get to her brother.4AN ADVANTAGE [transitive] to take advantage of a situation: use something to do something She used her position as manager to get jobs for her friends. He uses his small size to his advantage.5WORD [transitive] to say or write a particular word or phrase: Don’t use bad language around the kids.6DRUGS [intransitive, transitive] to regularly take illegal drugs7NAME [transitive] to call yourself by a name that is not yours in order to keep your real name secret: Martens uses her stage name when she travels.8somebody/something could use something spoken used to say that someone or something needs or really wants something: You look like you could use some sleep.[Origin: 1200–1300 Old French user, from Latin usus, past participle of uti to use]use something ↔ up phrasal verb to use all of something, so there is none left: Who used up the ketchup? verb | noun
useuse2 /yus/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1[countable] a purpose for which something can be used: Robots have many different uses in industry.have/find a use for something The drawer is full of things I never find a use for.2[uncountable] the act of using something, or the amount that is used: an exit for use in emergenciesuse of Increased use of fertilizers has led to water pollution.3make use of something to use something that is available in order to achieve something or get an advantage for yourself: More students should make use of the language lab. I have to learn to make better use of my time.4put something to (good) use to use knowledge, skills, etc. for a particular purpose: The job gives me an opportunity to put my language skills to good use.5[uncountable] the ability or right to use something: Joe’s given me the use of his office till he gets back. He lost the use of both legs as a result of the accident.6be (of) no use (to somebody) to be completely useless: Now that I’ve quit law school, the books are of no use to me.7be of use to be useful: Were my directions of any use?SPOKEN PHRASES8it’s/there’s no use (doing something) used to tell someone not to do something because it will have no effect: There’s no use complaining.9it’s no use! used to say that you are going to stop doing something because you do not think it will be successful: Oh, it’s no use! I can’t fix it.10what’s the use (of doing something)? used to say that something seems to be a waste of time: What’s the use of having a window in your office if you can’t open it?11something has its uses humorous used to say that something can sometimes be useful, even though it may not seem that way: Being stubborn can have its uses.12be in use a machine, place, etc. that is in use is being used: All of the washing machines are in use.13for the use of somebody provided for a particular person or group of people to use: The board room is for the use of company executives only.14come into use to start being used: Tanning beds came into use around 1979.15bring something into use to start using something16go/be out of use a machine, place, etc. that goes out of use or is out of use, stops being used, or is not being used17have no use for somebody/something to have no respect for someone or something: My company has no use for workers who aren’t motivated.18[countable] eng. lang. arts one of the meanings of a word, or the way that a particular word is used