use

verb ju:z

1》 take, hold, or deploy as a means of achieving something.

    ↘informal take (an illegal drug).

2》 take or consume (an amount) from a limited supply.

    ↘(use something up) consume or expend the whole of something.

    ↘(be used up) informal (of a person) be worn out.

3》 treat in a particular way: use your troops well.

    ↘exploit unfairly.

4》 ju:st (used to) did repeatedly or existed in the past.

5》 ju:st (be/get used to) be or become familiar with through experience.

6》 (one could use) informal one would like or benefit from.

noun ju:s

1》 the action of using or state of being used.

    ↘the ability or power to exercise or manipulate something: he lost the use of his legs.

    ↘a purpose for or way in which something can be used.

2》 value; advantage.

    ↘Law, historical the benefit or profit of lands, especially lands in the possession of another who holds them solely for the beneficiary.

3》 the characteristic ritual and liturgy of a Christian Church or diocese.

Phrases

have no use for informal dislike or be impatient with.

make use of benefit from.

use and wont formal established custom.

use someone's name cite someone as an authority or reference.

Origin

ME: the noun from OFr. us, from L. usus, from uti 'to use'; the verb from OFr. user, based on L. uti.

Usage

Confusion can arise over whether to write used to or use to, largely because the pronunciation is the same in both cases. Except in negatives and questions, the correct form is used to: we used to go to the cinema all the time. However, in negatives and questions using the auxiliary verb do, the correct form is use to, because the form of the verb required is the infinitive: I didn't use to like mushrooms.