Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

snore

[snawr, snohr]
See more synonyms for snore on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object), snored, snor·ing.
  1. to breathe during sleep with hoarse or harsh sounds caused by the vibrating of the soft palate.
Show More
verb (used with object), snored, snor·ing.
  1. to pass (time) in snoring or sleeping (usually followed by away or out): to snore the day away.
Show More
noun
  1. the act, instance, or sound of snoring.
  2. Slang. a person or thing that is dull and boring: Eighth grade is such a snore.
Show More

Origin of snore

1300–50; Middle English snoren (v.); cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch snorren
Related formssnor·er, nounout·snore, verb (used with object), out·snored, out·snor·ing.un·snor·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for snore

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Jim did not answer, and a snore seemed to indicate that he was slumbering.

  • Then she p'inted down the hatch and shut her eyes and purtended to snore.

    Cape Cod Stories

    Joseph C. Lincoln

  • The cry was quickly followed by the "snore" of a boat's fog-horn.

    Submarine Warfare of To-day

    Charles W. Domville-Fife

  • She had heard him snore rather louder than before far into the afternoon.

    A Set of Six

    Joseph Conrad

  • I must say he does not snore but I believe it is because he is too crazy to sleep.

    The Rescue

    Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for snore

snore

verb
  1. (intr) to breathe through the mouth and nose while asleep with snorting sounds caused by vibrations of the soft palate
Show More
noun
  1. the act or sound of snoring
Show More
Derived Formssnorer, noun

Word Origin

C14: of imitative origin; related to Middle Low German, Middle Dutch snorken; see snort
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for snore

v.

mid-15c., probably related to snort (v.) and both probably of imitative origin (cf. Dutch snorken, Middle High German snarchen, German schnarchen, Swedish snarka; see snout). Related: Snored; snoring.

Show More

n.

mid-14c., "a snort;" c.1600, "act of snoring," of imitative origin; see snore (v.).

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
snore in Medicine

snore

(snôr)
v.
  1. To breathe during sleep with harsh, snorting noises caused by vibration of the soft palate.
Show More
n.
  1. The act or an instance of snoring.
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.