noun
pore
paw
Pore (noun) means a tiny opening in the skin, or a similarly small opening in another surface. Example: “Sweat escapes through the pores in your skin.”
noun
1
A tiny opening in the skin, or a similarly small opening in another surface.
"I could sense the sweat dripping out of all my pores."
"Sweat escapes through the pores in your skin."
verb
1
To study or read something with intense, sustained concentration.
"She spent the evening poring over old family photographs."
How to use pore
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tiny opening in a surface, or (as a verb) to study something closely and carefully.
Common mistake
The verb is "pore over" a document (study closely), not "pour over" it — a very common spelling mix-up.
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Word forms
- Plural
- pores
- Third person singular
- pores
- Past tense
- pored
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Sweat escapes through the _____ in your skin.
Etymology
From Old French pore, from Latin porus, from Greek poros ("passage").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for pore
See all rhymes for pore →Frequently asked questions
What does “pore” mean?
The word “pore” means a tiny opening in the skin, or a similarly small opening in another surface. In plain terms, a tiny opening in a surface, or (as a verb) to study something closely and carefully.
How do you pronounce “pore”?
“Pore” is pronounced paw (/poɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pore” in a sentence?
Here is “pore” used in a sentence: “Sweat escapes through the pores in your skin.”
What part of speech is “pore”?
Depending on how it is used, “pore” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pore” come from?
The word “pore” comes from Latin. From Old French pore, from Latin porus, from Greek poros ("passage").
How many meanings does “pore” have?
“Pore” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tiny opening in the skin, or a similarly small opening in another surface.
