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bore
1[ bawr ]
/ bɔr /
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verb (used with object), bored, bor·ing.
to weary by dullness, tedious repetition, unwelcome attentions, etc.: The long speech bored me.
noun
a dull, tiresome, or uncongenial person.
a cause of ennui or petty annoyance: repetitious tasks that are a bore to do.
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Origin of bore
1First recorded in 1760–70; of uncertain origin
Words nearby bore
Border terrier, Bordet, Bordetella, Bordet-Gengou bacillus, bordure, bore, boreal, Boreas, borecole, bored, boredom
Other definitions for bore (2 of 4)
bore2
[ bawr, bohr ]
/ bɔr, boʊr /
verb (used with object), bored, bor·ing.
verb (used without object), bored, bor·ing.
noun
a hole made or enlarged by boring.
the inside diameter of a hole, tube, or hollow cylindrical object or device, such as a bushing or bearing, engine cylinder, or barrel of a gun.
Origin of bore
2First recorded before 900; Middle English bor(i)en, Old English borian; cognate with Old High German borōn, German bohren, Old Norse bora, Latin forāre
OTHER WORDS FROM bore
bore·a·ble, bor·a·ble, adjectiveOther definitions for bore (3 of 4)
bore3
[ bawr, bohr ]
/ bɔr, boʊr /
noun
an abrupt rise of tidal water moving rapidly inland from the mouth of an estuary.
Also called tidal bore .
Origin of bore
3First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English bare “a wave, billow,” from Old Norse bāra
Other definitions for bore (4 of 4)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use bore in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for bore (1 of 4)
bore1
/ (bɔː) /
verb
noun
Word Origin for bore
Old English borian; related to Old Norse bora, Old High German borōn to bore, Latin forāre to pierce, Greek pharos ploughing, phárunx pharynx
British Dictionary definitions for bore (2 of 4)
bore2
/ (bɔː) /
verb
(tr) to tire or make weary by being dull, repetitious, or uninteresting
noun
a dull, repetitious, or uninteresting person, activity, or state
Derived forms of bore
bored, adjectiveWord Origin for bore
C18: of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for bore (3 of 4)
bore3
/ (bɔː) /
noun
a high steep-fronted wave moving up a narrow estuary, caused by the tide
Word Origin for bore
C17: from Old Norse bāra wave, billow
British Dictionary definitions for bore (4 of 4)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Scientific definitions for bore
bore
[ bôr ]
In fluid mechanics, a jump in the level of moving water, generally propagating in the opposite direction to the current. Strong ocean tides can cause bores to propagate up rivers.
- The white, shallow portion of a wave after it breaks. The bore carries ocean water onto the beach.
- A tidal wave caused by the surge of a flood tide upstream in a narrowing estuary or by colliding tidal currents.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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