Wear and tear is a term used to describe the gradual deterioration of an item due to regular USE. It is also known as DEPRECIATION, which is the decrease in value of an asset over time. Wear and tear is caused by the everyday USE of an item, such as a car or a piece of furniture, and can be seen as a natural process of aging. The term 'USE' is often used to refer to the act of using an item, which can lead to wear and tear.