pour

[pawr, pohr]

verb (used with object)

1. to send (a liquid, fluid, or anything in loose particles) flowing or falling, as from one container to another, or into, over, or on something.

   to pour a glass of milk; to pour water on a plant.

2. to emit or propel, especially continuously or rapidly.

   The hunter poured bullets into the moving object.

3. to produce or utter in or as in a stream or flood (often followed byout ).

   to pour out one's troubles to a friend.

verb (used without object)

1. to issue, move, or proceed in great quantity or number.

   Crowds poured from the stadium after the game.

2. to flow forth or along; stream.

   Floodwaters poured over the embankments.

3. to rain heavily (often used impersonally with it as subject).

   It was pouring, but fortunately we had umbrellas.

noun

1. the act of pouring.

2. an abundant or continuous flow or stream.

   a pour of insults.

3. a heavy fall of rain.

4. a wine or other beverage.

   a list of the best pours.

pour

/ pɔː /

verb

1. to flow or cause to flow in a stream

2. (tr) to issue, emit, etc, in a profuse way

3. Also: pour with rain. to rain heavily

   it's pouring down outside

4. (intr) to move together in large numbers; swarm

5. (intr) to serve tea, coffee, etc

   shall I pour?

6. events, esp unfortunate ones, come together or occur in rapid succession

7. informal,  to be unenthusiastic about or discourage

8. to try to calm a quarrel, etc

noun

1. a pouring, downpour, etc

Usage

The verbs pour and pore are sometimes confused: she poured cream over her strudel; she pored (not poured ) over the manuscript

Other Word Forms

• pourable adjective
• pourability noun
• pourer noun
• pouringly adverb
• interpour verb (used with object)
• repour verb (used with object)
• unpourable adjective
• unpoured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pour¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pouren; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of pour¹

C13: of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

• it never rains but it pours

Example Sentences

Criticism poured in from all sides as soon as he presented his cabinet on Sunday afternoon and by Monday morning he had decided his position was untenable.

From BBC

Since the proposal was announced in August, donations supporting the measure have poured in.

From Los Angeles Times

Venture investors have been pouring billions of dollars into humanoid robotics companies.

From Los Angeles Times

They then poured a liquid at the entrance and near a car parked outside, which was set alight, the volunteer said.

From BBC

Linda’s situation gets even more dire when water starts to pour through the ceiling of her home, forcing her and her daughter to move into a rundown motel.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cascade 
• discharge 
• drain 
• flood 
• flow 
• gush 
• rush 
• spew 
• spill 
• splash 
• stream 
• swarm