gore
1 Americannoun
-
blood that is shed, especially when clotted.
-
murder, bloodshed, violence, etc..
That horror movie had too much gore.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a triangular piece of material inserted in a garment, sail, etc., to give it greater width or a desired shape.
-
one of the panels, usually tapering or shaped, making up a garment, as a skirt.
-
a triangular tract of land, especially one lying between larger divisions.
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
noun
-
a tapering or triangular piece of material used in making a shaped skirt, umbrella, etc
-
a similarly shaped piece, esp of land
verb
noun
-
blood shed from a wound, esp when coagulated
-
informal killing, fighting, etc
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of gore1
First recorded in before 900; Middle English gor(r)e “filth, moral filth,” Old English gor “dung, bull dung, dirt”; cognate with Dutch goor, Old High German gor “filth,” Old Norse gor “cud”
Origin of gore2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gor(r)en “to pierce, stab,” derivative of gōre “spear, javelin, dart,” from Old English gār spear, shaft, arrow”; see also gore 3
Origin of gore3
First recorded before 900; Middle English gor(e), gar(e) “triangular piece of land, triangular piece of cloth,” Old English gāra “triangular piece of land, corner” (cognate with German Gehre “gusset”); akin to Old English gār “spear”; see gore 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Do you like horror movies? Then you probably like gore: bloody, yucky, violent action. Gore certainly includes the bloody violence in zombie movies, but it can also refer to real-life violence, especially bloodshed and murder. If you stabbed someone with a sword, you gored them. An animal with sharp horns, like a bull, can gore a person to death. Gore is also blood that's clotting in a wound. An un-bloody, unrelated meaning of gore is a triangle-shaped piece of cloth used in making umbrellas, sails, and some clothes.
Vocabulary lists containing gore
If I Stay
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Huntress
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Labrada Gore, a content creator who promotes ancestral health online as Holistic Hilda, said she learned about glyphosate nearly a decade ago and hasn’t shopped the same way since.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026
Veteran third-choice keeper Tom Heaton, 40, and midfielder Dan Gore, 21, a regular starter in his second loan spell at relegated League One side Rotherham United, are also out of contract.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
"We should be preparing for the loss of knowledge work jobs in a number of categories," warned former US vice president Al Gore.
From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026
Freshly-acquired MacKenzie Gore should add length to the Rangers’ rotation, while former Vanderbilt teammates Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker will have an opportunity to establish themselves as formidable major league starters.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
I find it hard to believe, because Mr. Gore is very thin and fragile-looking, but he is tall.
From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.