As a verb, it means to do something with an object, idea, or resource for a particular purpose. As a noun, it refers to the act of using something or the way it is used.
From Old French 'user', from Latin 'ūtī' meaning 'to use, employ, enjoy'. The noun form comes from Latin 'ūsus' (use, practice, experience).
Use is about purpose: when you 'use' something, you plug it into a goal. The same object changes meaning depending on use—a knife can be a cooking tool or a weapon, purely by purpose.
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