mire

[mahy^uhr]

noun

1. a tract or area of wet, swampy ground; bog; marsh.

2. ground of this kind, as wet, slimy soil of some depth or deep mud.

verb (used with object)

mired, miring 

1. to plunge and fix in mire; cause to stick fast in mire.

2. to involve; entangle.

3. to soil with mire; bespatter with mire.

verb (used without object)

mired, miring 

1. to sink and stick in mire or mud.

mire

/ maɪə /

noun

1. a boggy or marshy area

2. mud, muck, or dirt

verb

1. to sink or cause to sink in a mire

2. (tr) to make dirty or muddy

3. (tr) to involve, esp in difficulties

Other Word Forms

• mired adjective
• miriness noun
• miry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mire¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse mȳrr “bog”; cognate with Old English mēos moss

Word History and Origins

Origin of mire¹

C14: from Old Norse mӯrr; related to _moss

Example Sentences

The talks have been mired in persistent disagreement over who should have to cut back on water and by how much.

From Los Angeles Times

The referendum was mired by extensive evidence of Russian meddling – including cash being smuggled into the country to buy votes.

From BBC

However, it was also mired by protests as thousands gathered in Parliament Square.

From BBC

Perkins is the latest public figure to be mired in controversy over comments related to Kirk.

From Los Angeles Times

On this, his third album, he picks at the scabs of northern working-class life, and rails against a system that leaves families mired in bureaucratic neglect.

From BBC

Related Words

• bog down 
• embroil 
• enmesh 
• ensnare 
• entangle 
• flounder 
• implicate 
• involve 
• stick 
• tangle 
• trap