What does tire mean?
Tire has two principal roles. As a noun, it names the resilient outer part of a wheel, usually a rubber ring filled with air or a solid equivalent. It appears in familiar expressions such as “flat tire,” “spare tire,” and “tire pressure,” and refers to a component of vehicles, bicycles, carts, and many other machines. As a verb, tire means to become weary, as in “The children began to tire near the end of the walk.” It can also be used transitively to mean that an activity or experience makes someone exhausted. The related form “tire of” expresses boredom or loss of patience with something. Tire is particularly common as a noun in North American English; British English generally uses “tyre” for the wheel covering, although the verb “tire” is standard in both varieties.
An outer covering for a wheel, usually made of rubber and either filled with air or formed as a solid wheel.
"A burst tire forced the driver to pull onto the shoulder."
The noun is the usual North American term; British English typically uses “tyre.”
To become tired or weary; to make someone tired or exhausted; to grow weary of a person, activity, or situation.
"Years of legal disputes tired her of the case."
The verb is standard in British and American English and may be used intransitively or transitively.
The regular plural is “tires.” The British English spelling “tyre” has the plural “tyres.”
"The mechanic found two tires badly worn."
One small spelling difference divides English-speaking countries: Americans say tire, while British English usually says tyre.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tire come from?
The noun is recorded in Middle English in the forms “tire” and “tyre”; its older sense referred to a wheel or wheel rim before the modern sense of an outer wheel covering became established. The verb is also Middle English and preserves the long-established meanings of becoming weary and making someone exhausted. The modern spelling distinction arose as British English retained “tyre” for the noun while North American English adopted “tire.” Derivatives such as “tired,” “tiring,” “tiresome,” and “tireless” continue the word’s forms and meanings.
Related word forms
How tire is actually used
The noun is standard in North American English, while the verb is ordinary in both British and American English. The expression “tire of” means to become weary of a person, activity, or situation.
Easily confused with tire
Tyre is the usual British English spelling for the wheel covering, while tire is the usual North American spelling.