pour

[ pawr, pohr ]

verb (used with object)

1. to send (a liquid, fluid, or anything in loose particles) flowing or falling, as from one container to another, or into, over, or on something:

   to pour a glass of milk; to pour water on a plant.

2. to emit or propel, especially continuously or rapidly:

   The hunter poured bullets into the moving object.

3. to produce or utter in or as in a stream or flood (often followed by out ):

   to pour out one's troubles to a friend.

verb (used without object)

1. to issue, move, or proceed in great quantity or number:

   Crowds poured from the stadium after the game.

2. to flow forth or along; stream:

   Floodwaters poured over the embankments.

3. to rain heavily (often used impersonally with it as subject):

   It was pouring, but fortunately we had umbrellas.

noun

1. the act of pouring.
2. an abundant or continuous flow or stream:

   a pour of insults.

3. a heavy fall of rain.
4. a wine or other beverage:

   a list of the best pours.

pour

/ pɔː /

verb

1. to flow or cause to flow in a stream
2. tr to issue, emit, etc, in a profuse way
3. Alsopour with rain introften foll bydown to rain heavily

   it's pouring down outside

4. intr to move together in large numbers; swarm
5. intr to serve tea, coffee, etc

   shall I pour?

6. it never rains but it pours
   events, esp unfortunate ones, come together or occur in rapid succession
7. pour cold water on informal.
   to be unenthusiastic about or discourage
8. pour oil on troubled waters
   to try to calm a quarrel, etc

noun

1. a pouring, downpour, etc

Usage

The verbs pour and pore are sometimes confused: she poured cream over her strudel; she pored (not poured ) over the manuscript

Derived Forms

• ˈpourer, noun

Other Word Forms

• poura·ble adjective
• poura·bili·ty noun
• pourer noun
• pouring·ly adverb
• inter·pour verb (used with object)
• re·pour verb (used with object)
• un·poura·ble adjective
• un·poured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pour¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pouren; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of pour¹

C13: of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

• it never rains but it pours

Example Sentences

Trump doesn’t even care about the crime victim pouring her heart out in the briefing room.

From Salon

I wonder if there are ways that larger institutions can support many different kinds of theater making, like pouring into smaller artist collectives in a way that enables them to create with autonomy.

From Los Angeles Times

As smokes poured out of the vehicle, officers rushed to surround it.

From Los Angeles Times

On board the Star Express, the cocktails are poured and the karaoke microphone is passed around, as retirees party their way through China's south-western Yunnan province.

From BBC

"My leg stopped working. When I looked down, blood was pouring."

From BBC

Related Words

• cascade
• discharge
• drain
• flood
• flow
• gush
• rush
• spew
• spill
• splash
• stream
• swarm