whore

¹ American  

[hawr] / hɔr /

noun

1. a person who engages in sex acts for money; prostitute.

2. Disparaging and Offensive. a person who is sexually promiscuous.

3. a person who sacrifices personal principles or uses someone or something in a base or unworthy manner, usually for money.

   a greedy publicity whore.

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verb (used without object)

whored, whoring

1. to act as a whore.

2. to consort with whores.

3. to seek after something that is base or unworthy.

   those who practice idolatry and whore after other gods.

verb (used with object)

whored, whoring

1. to put to a base or unworthy use (sometimes followed byout ).

   He’s whoring out his skills by writing for popular magazines.

2. Obsolete. to make a whore of; corrupt; debauch.

who're ² American  

[hoo-er] / ˈhu ər /

1. contraction of who are:

   Who're the people at the next table?

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whore British  

/ hɔː /

noun

1. a prostitute or promiscuous woman: often a term of abuse

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verb

1. to be or act as a prostitute

2. (of a man) to have promiscuous sexual relations, esp with prostitutes

3. (often foll by after) to seek that which is immoral, idolatrous, etc

Usage

See contraction.

Other Word Forms

• whorish adjective
• whorishly adverb
• whorishness noun

Etymology

Origin of whore

First recorded before 1100; Middle English, Old English hōre; cognate with German Hure, Old Norse hōra; akin to Gothic hors “harlot,” Latin cārus “beloved; expensive”

Example Sentences

“Avast, ye hearties! The ship has been stormed by blackguards! Renegades! Cutthroats! Bilge rats who’re yappin’ and barkin’ like scurvy dogs!

From Literature

"We have a number of very experienced, knowledgeable staff who're there to help on each individual case."

From BBC

The fine powder released by certain grasses, trees and plants is causing chaos for the many who're allergic to pollen.

From BBC

“The reality is police are not the ones who’re allowed to decide who is press,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Ashley worries that people who use Tinder's new filter "might be cutting themselves off from people who're a potential match for them, rather than someone who's their preferred height".

From BBC

Related Words

• hustler
• slut
• tramp