- Tire
- Tire Tire, n. [Aphetic form of attire; OE. tir, a tir. See
{Attire}.]
1. Attire; apparel. [Archaic] ``Having rich tire about you.''
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. A covering for the head; a headdress. [1913 Webster]
On her head she wore a tire of gold. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
3. A child's apron, covering the breast and having no sleeves; a pinafore; a tier. [1913 Webster]
4. Furniture; apparatus; equipment. [Obs.] ``The tire of war.'' --Philips. [1913 Webster]
5. [Probably the same word, and so called as being an attire or covering for the wheel.] A ring, hoop or band, as of rubber or metal, on the circumference of the wheel of a vehicle, to impart strength and receive the wear. In Britain, spelled {tyre}. [1913 Webster]
Note: The iron tire of a wagon wheel or cart wheel binds the fellies together. The tire of a locomotive or railroad-car wheel is a heavy hoop of iron or steel shrunk tightly upon an iron central part. The wheel of a bicycle or road vehicle (automobile, motorcyle, truck) has a tire of rubber, which is typically hollow inside and inflated with air to lessen the shocks from bumps on uneven roads. [1913 Webster +PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.