Definition of Fret

Verb: fret (fretted,fretting) fret

Worry unnecessarily or excessively
"don't fret too much over the grandchildren--they are quite big now";
- fuss, niggle
Be agitated or irritated
"don't fret over these small details";
- stew
Provide (a musical instrument) with frets
"fret a guitar"
Become or make sore by or as if by rubbing
- chafe, gall
Cause annoyance in
Gnaw into; make resentful or angry
"The injustice fretted her";
- eat into, rankle, grate
(handicraft) carve a pattern into
Decorate with an interlaced design
Be too tight; rub or press
"This neckband is fretting the cat";
- choke, gag
Cause friction
"my sweater frets";
- rub, fray, chafe, scratch
Remove soil or rock
- erode, eat away
Wear away or erode
- eat away

Noun: fret fret

Agitation resulting from active worry
- stew, sweat, lather, swither
A spot that has been worn away by abrasion or erosion
- worn spot
An ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines (often in relief)
"there was a simple fret at the top of the walls";
- Greek fret, Greek key, key pattern
A small bar of metal across the fingerboard of a musical instrument; when the string is stopped by a finger at the metal bar it will produce a note of the desired pitch