bork

¹ American  

[bawrk] / bɔrk /

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to malfunction, especially computer hardware or software: The fonts are borked when the site is accessed from a mobile device.

   Installing updates in the wrong order will bork all of your saved games.

   The fonts are borked when the site is accessed from a mobile device.

2. to mess up, ruin, break, botch, etc.: Of course I borked my leg on the first day of our ski trip.

   He said all of the wrong things during his interview and completely borked his chances of being invited back.

   Of course I borked my leg on the first day of our ski trip.

---

bork ² American  

[bawrk] / bɔrk /

verb (used with object)

1. to attack (a candidate or public figure) systematically, especially in the media.

---

Etymology

Origin of bork¹

First recorded in 2000–05; perhaps an alteration of break ( def. ), influenced by bork ² ( def. )

Origin of bork²

An Americanism dating back to 1988; after Judge Robert H. Bork, whose appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court was blocked in 1987 after an extensive media campaign by his opponents

Example Sentences

County Superior Court Judge Terry Bork directed the company to shut down the scrap yard for good and sign a land covenant that would prohibit future recycling on the site.

From Los Angeles Times

Bork also ordered Atlas to pay $2 million in fines and penalties, including $1 million in restitution to Los Angeles Unified School District.

From Los Angeles Times

He was widely seen as the “nice guy” alternative to Bork’s combative demeanor and Ginsburg’s youthful indiscretions.

From Slate

County Superior Court Judge Terry Bork briefly jailed the Weisenbergs and days later order the plant shuttered for failure to comply.

From Los Angeles Times

County Superior Court Judge Terry Bork halted operations at a metal recycling plant that has long been accused of exposing Watts high school students to toxic waste.

From Los Angeles Times