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• chore
  chore

  noun

  a small or odd job; routine task.
• -chore
  -chore

  combining form

  (in botany) indicating a plant distributed by a certain means

chore

American  

[chawr, chohr] / tʃɔr, tʃoʊr /

noun

1. a small or odd job; routine task.

   Synonyms:

   stint, errand, work, duty

2. chores, the everyday work around a house or farm.

3. a hard or unpleasant task.

   Solving the problem was quite a chore.

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chore ¹ British  

/ tʃɔː /

noun

1. a small routine task, esp a domestic one

2. an unpleasant task

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-chore ² British  

combining form

1. (in botany) indicating a plant distributed by a certain means

   anemochore

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Related Words

See task.

Other Word Forms

• -chorous
  combining form

Etymology

Origin of chore

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English char, Old English cyrr, variant of cierr, cerr. See char ³

Explanation

A chore is a duty or task you’re obligated to perform, often one that is unpleasant but necessary. Washing the dishes is a chore, and so is completing a homework assignment you aren’t excited about. Sometimes a thing that you wanted to do can become a chore if it ceases to be fun or interesting. Maybe Napoleon felt that conquering nations had become a chore by the time he was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo. The noun chore dates from the 18th century, when there were fewer appliances and more household tasks that needed to be done.

Related Words

• assignment
• burden
• duty
• errand
• housework
• routine
• workout