pore
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to read or study with steady attention or application.
a scholar poring over a rare old manuscript.
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to gaze earnestly or steadily.
to pore over a painting.
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to meditate or ponder intently (usually followed by over, on, orupon ).
He pored over the strange events of the preceding evening.
- Synonyms:
- examine, peruse, scrutinize, ponder
noun
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a minute opening or orifice, as in the skin or a leaf, for perspiration, absorption, etc.
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a minute interstice, as in a rock.
noun
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anatomy zoology any small opening in the skin or outer surface of an animal
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botany any small aperture, esp that of a stoma through which water vapour and gases pass
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any other small hole, such as a space in a rock, soil, etc
verb
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(foll by over) to make a close intent examination or study (of a book, map, etc)
he pored over the documents for several hours
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to think deeply (about)
he pored on the question of their future
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rare to look earnestly or intently (at); gaze fixedly (upon)
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A tiny opening, as one in an animal's skin or on the surface of a plant leaf or stem, through which liquids or gases may pass.
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A space in soil, rock, or loose sediment that is not occupied by mineral matter and allows the passage or absorption of fluids, such as water, petroleum, or air.
Other Word Forms
- porelike adjective
Etymology
Origin of pore1
1250–1300; Middle English pouren < ?
Origin of pore2
1350–1400; Middle English poore < Late Latin porus < Greek póros passage; emporium, ford
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She pores over a drawer of unorganized jewelry to find the right piece.
From Salon
She couldn’t stop herself from stealing a peek at the school conductor’s score, copying bowings and poring over the details, but she didn’t indulge any dreams of taking the podium herself.
From Los Angeles Times
Instead of spending hours poring over a lengthy 10-K, teams can accelerate tasks with precise prompts and receive structured, defensible outputs powering market-moving decisions in seconds.
From MarketWatch
Online sleuths poring over government files have drawn a tenuous connection between the 90-year-old company and Leon Black, the former CEO of its private-equity owner, Apollo Global Management.
When it is Prince William's time, he will inherit a Crown where deference is diminished, privilege is pored over and financial accountability is scrutinised hard.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
