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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.
"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 notes

In 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.

Easily confused with

Word forms

pored past tense, pores plural, pores singular

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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").

Origin: Latin

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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial