| noun | agitation resulting from active worry “don't get in a stew” |
| noun | a spot that has been worn away by abrasion or erosion |
| noun | an ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines (often in relief) “there was a simple fret at the top of the walls” |
| noun | 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 |
| verb | worry unnecessarily or excessively “don't fuss too much over the grandchildren--they are quite big now” |
| verb | be agitated or irritated “don't fret over these small details” |
| verb | provide (a musical instrument) with frets “fret a guitar” |
| verb | become or make sore by or as if by rubbing |
| verb | cause annoyance in |
| verb | gnaw into; make resentful or angry “The injustice rankled her” |
| verb | carve a pattern into |
| verb | decorate with an interlaced design |
| verb | be too tight; rub or press “This neckband is choking the cat” |
| verb | cause friction “my sweater scratches” |
| verb | remove soil or rock “Rain eroded the terraces” |
| verb | wear away or erode |
| fret | verb | worry unnecessarily or excessively |
| stew | verb | be in a huff; be silent or sullen |
| fuss | noun | an excited state of agitation |
| fret | noun | agitation resulting from active worry |
| chafe | noun | soreness and warmth caused by friction |
| gall | noun | a skin sore caused by chafing |
| choker | noun | necklace that fits tightly around a woman's neck |
| rubbing | noun | the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another |
| scratch | noun | an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off |
| erosive | adjective | wearing away by friction |
| erosion | noun | condition in which the earth's surface is worn away by the action of water and wind |
| eroding | noun | (geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it) |