Ware Meaning
/ˈwɛə/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounGoods or a type of goods offered for sale or use.
nounSee wares.
Sentence Examples
damascene ware, tole ware
Ware thee.
Bronze-ware is largely made from alloys of brass and tin.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The store sells fine glass ____ for special occasions and gifts.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company produces a wide range of kitchen ____, including several pots and many different types of pans today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English ware, from Old English waru, from Proto-West Germanic *waru, from Proto-Germanic *warō (“attention”) as in beware, in the sense of “an object of care, a valuable”, from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to watch, keep guard”), whence also ward. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Were (“an item for exchange, barter, or sale; ware”), Dutch waar (“goods offered for sale or use; ware”), German Ware (“ware”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk vare (“ware”), Faroese vøra (“ware”), Icelandic and Swedish vara (“ware”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Astbury was the more successful and made frequent journeys to London, where he sold his ware and obtained further orders."
— 1923, John Lord, Capital and steam-power, 1750–1800:
"On Sunday, a Mr. Stephen Muturi Kamau, aged 20 years, was shot dead at Dandora while he was selling his ware. This is a well known hawker. He has been hawking his ware in Dandora."
— 2002 March 28, “Kenya National Assembly Official Record”, in parliamentary debates:
"What in the world am I going to do with tarnished silver ware? The deeper I dig, I pull out more silver with carved handles."
— 2011, Tonya Kappes, Carpe Bead'em:
"Artisans sell their ware in the historic district at the lower level of the Soldier's Barracks."
— 2012, Julie Watson, Frommer's Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, page 179:
"And in like wise as she said so they departed, that neither the king nor none of his council were ware of their departing."
— 1485 July 26, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter I, in William Caxton, editor, Le Morte D’Arthur, volume 1:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The store sells fine glass ____ for special occasions and gifts.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company produces a wide range of kitchen ____, including several pots and many different types of pans today.