pore

¹ American  

[pawr, pohr] / pɔr, poʊr /

verb (used without object)

pored, poring

1. to read or study with steady attention or application.

   a scholar poring over a rare old manuscript.

2. to gaze earnestly or steadily.

   to pore over a painting.

3. to meditate or ponder intently (usually followed by over, on, orupon ).

   He pored over the strange events of the preceding evening.

   Synonyms:

   examine, peruse, scrutinize, ponder

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pore ² American  

[pawr, pohr] / pɔr, poʊr /

noun

1. a minute opening or orifice, as in the skin or a leaf, for perspiration, absorption, etc.

2. a minute interstice, as in a rock.

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pore ¹ British  

/ pɔː /

noun

1. anatomy zoology any small opening in the skin or outer surface of an animal

2. botany any small aperture, esp that of a stoma through which water vapour and gases pass

3. any other small hole, such as a space in a rock, soil, etc

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pore ² British  

/ pɔː /

verb

1. (foll by over) to make a close intent examination or study (of a book, map, etc)

   he pored over the documents for several hours

2. to think deeply (about)

   he pored on the question of their future

3. rare to look earnestly or intently (at); gaze fixedly (upon)

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pore Scientific  

/ pôr /

1. A tiny opening, as one in an animal's skin or on the surface of a plant leaf or stem, through which liquids or gases may pass.

2. A space in soil, rock, or loose sediment that is not occupied by mineral matter and allows the passage or absorption of fluids, such as water, petroleum, or air.

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Other Word Forms

• porelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of pore¹

1250–1300; Middle English pouren < ?

Origin of pore²

1350–1400; Middle English poore < Late Latin porus < Greek póros passage; emporium, ford

Example Sentences

Menthol binds to a separate area of the protein and triggers shape changes that spread toward the pore, eventually opening it.

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2026

This torque travels along the strand, causing sections outside the pore to coil into plectonemes.

From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026

When the SpaceX IPO arrives, investors will pore over estimates for its more tangible businesses, such as launch services and Starlink’s space-based broadband product, which has more than 9 million customers External link.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

USC, which received 83,500 applications in the last undergraduate admissions cycle, has dozens of full-time readers who work tens of thousands of hours to pore over grades, essays and other application elements.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2026

Turned, too, his jaw to the light of the bulb so she could press out between her thumbnails the hair root caught in a pore the dog.

From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison