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

Online sleuths poring over government files have drawn a tenuous connection between the 90-year-old company and Leon Black, the former CEO of its private-equity owner, Apollo Global Management.

From The Wall Street Journal

When it is Prince William's time, he will inherit a Crown where deference is diminished, privilege is pored over and financial accountability is scrutinised hard.

From BBC

Officers have pored through thousands of pieces of evidence, including microchips found at the scene, but they say they have made only a "very small number" of connections to owners.

From BBC

Drawing inspiration from this natural system, the researchers designed a solid-state version capable of forming pores nearly as small as biological ion channels.

From Science Daily

AFP was granted a look inside the global organisation's multi-pronged cybercrime facility, where specialists pore through massive amounts of data in a bid to prevent the next big ransomware attack or impersonation scam.

From Barron's