Quick Definition
φρέαρ, φρέατος, τό n.n. a pit, well
Strong's Definition
of uncertain derivation; a hole in the ground (dug for obtaining or holding water or other purposes), i.e. a cistern or well; figuratively, an abyss (as a prison)
KJV Usage: well, pit
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -ατος
7.57 · Constructions · Constructions for Holding Water
well deep constructions, often walled with stone, at the bottom of which was a pool of water If there was a relatively ready flow of water, a well could very appropriately be called a πηγή[a] ‘spring,’ 1.78 (and this may be the reason for πηγή in JHN 4:6), but if water only gradually seeped into the well from surrounding areas or was collected in the well from surface drainage, it would be more appropriately called φρέαρ[a]. However, both terms are used interchangeably in certain contexts; compare, for example, πηγή in JHN 4:6 and φρέαρ in JHN 4:11, both referring to Jacob’s well at Sychar.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
φρέαρ, -aros, τό, fr. the Hom. hymn Cer. 99 and Hadt. 6, 119 down; Sept. for 13 and (in 1S. xix. 22; 2 S. iil. 26; Jer. xlviii. (xli.) 7,9) 73 (a pit, cistern), a well: Lk. xiv. δ; ση. ἵν. 11 54.; pp. τῆς ἀβύσσου, the pit of the abyss (because the nether world is thought to increase in size the further it extends from the surface of the earth and so to resemble a cistern, the orifice of which is narrow), Rev. ix. 1 sq.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
φρέαρ phrear 7x
a well, cistern, Lk. 14:5; Jn. 4:11, 12; a pit, Rev. 9:1, 2*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
φρέαρ, -ατος, τό
[in LXX chiefly for בְּאֵר ;]
a well: Lk 14:5, Jo 4:11, 12; φ. τῆς ἀβύσσου, Re 9:1, 2.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
φρέαρ, “a well” (Lk τ45, a/.): P Grenf I. 218 (8.c. 126) a Will in which the testator leaves amongst other bequests ἔδα(φος) ἀμπελῶ(νος), Kal τὰ ἐν τούτωι φρέατα ἐξόπτης πλί(νθου), “ἐᾷ vineyard and the wells of baked brick in it,” P Oxy VIII. 1105?° (a.p. 81-96) ppéat{p}os λιθίνου, ‘‘a stone well,” 7. III. 5023° (a lease—a.D. 164) kal τοῦ προκειμένου φρέατος τροχελλέαν σὺν σχοινίῳ καινῷ, ‘the reel of the aforesaid well provided with a new rope”’ (Edd.), τό. XIV. 167828 (iii/A.D.), a letter having on the verso ἀπό(δος) mapa Θέωϊ[νος.] onpac{o}ia ἐν Tevpevotrer ἐν τῷ ῥυμείῳ ἀντεὶ τοῦ φλητρος (1. φρέατος), ‘deliver from Theon ; address, at the Teumenous quarter in the lane opposite the well ’’ (Edd.), and P Giss I. 491! (iii/A.D.) καμάραι δύο kal φρέαρ. For the form pita for φρέατα, see P Cairo Zen III. 59499"? (iii/B.c.), with the editor’s note. A dim. φρεάτιον occurs in PSI LV. 423%9 (iii/B.c.) περὶ τῶν φρεατίων.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
φρέαρ (phrear) — well/abyss. φρέ-αρ, epigram φρεῖαρ [Refs 2nd c.BC+], contraction φρητός [Refs 1st c.AD+], Hdn.Gr.1.409; Epic dialect dative φρέᾰτι [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; plural φρέᾱτα, also φρῆτα [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; Epic dialect plural φρείᾰτα (see. below):—an artificial well (thus distinguished from κρήνη,[Refs 5th c.BC+]; but φ. ἀσφάλτον naphtha-spring, [LXX+8th c.BC+]; the stem φρεατ - first in [Refs]
2. later, tank, cistern, reservoir, [Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.; εἰς φ. καταβαίνειν καὶ κολυμβᾶν [Refs 5th c.BC+]: generally, pit, φ. διαφθορᾶς [LXX]
2. b perhaps oil-jar, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
3. metaphorically, εἰς φρέατά τε καὶ πᾶσαν ἀπορίαν ἐμπίπτων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ περὶ τὸ φ. ὄρχησις, proverbial of persons 'on the brink of a volcano', [Refs 1st c.AD+]; λύκος περὶ φ. χορεύει proverbial cited in [Refs 5th c.AD+]; πίνειν ἐξ ἀργυροῦ φρέατος, i.e. a large wine-cup, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]. [Attic dialect genitive φρέᾱτος [Refs 5th c.BC+] genitive frhvṇτος, cf. Armenian albiur 'well', Goth. and O[Refs 5th c.BC+] brunna 'stream, burn', Latin ferveo, defrutum.)