English Dictionary

Definition of “bore”

bore1 (bɔː Pronunciation for bore1

Definitions

verb

  1. to produce (a hole) in (a material) by use of a drill, auger, or other cutting tool
  2. to increase the diameter of (a hole), as by an internal turning operation on a lathe or similar machine
  3. tr to produce (a hole in the ground, tunnel, mine shaft, etc) by digging, drilling, cutting, etc
  4. intr (informal) (of a horse or athlete in a race) to push other competitors, esp in order to try to get them out of the way

noun

  1. a hole or tunnel in the ground, esp one drilled in search of minerals, oil, etc
    1. a circular hole in a material produced by drilling, turning, or drawing
    2. the diameter of such a hole
    1. the hollow part of a tube or cylinder, esp of a gun barrel
    2. the diameter of such a hollow part; calibre
  2. (Australian) an artesian well

Word Origin

Old English borian; related to Old Norse bora, Old High German borōn to bore, Latin forāre to pierce, Greek pharos ploughing, phárunxpharynx

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= hole, tunnel, shaft, borehole, drill hole

bore2 (bɔː Pronunciation for bore2

Definitions

verb

  1. tr to tire or make weary by being dull, repetitious, or uninteresting

noun

  1. a dull, repetitious, or uninteresting person, activity, or state

Derived Forms

bored adjective

Word Origin

C18: of unknown origin

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= tire, exhaust, annoy, fatigue, weary, wear out, jade, wear down, be tedious, pall on, send to sleep,
= nuisance, pain, drag, headache, yawn, anorak, pain in the neck, dullard, pain in the arse, dull person, tiresome person, wearisome talker

Quotations including 'bore'

  • "Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen" Ambrose Bierce
  • "The way to be a bore is to say everything" Voltaire
  • "He was not only a bore; he bored for England" Malcolm Muggeridge
  • "A bore is a man who, when you ask him how he is, tells you" Bert Leston Taylor
  • "A healthy male adult bore consumes each year one and a half times his own weight in other people's patience" John Updike
  • "Some people can stay longer in an hour than others can in a week" W.D. Howells

bore3 (bɔː Pronunciation for bore3

Definitions

noun

  1. a high steep-fronted wave moving up a narrow estuary, caused by the tide

Word Origin

C17: from Old Norse bāra wave, billow

bore4 (bɔː Pronunciation for bore4

Definitions

verb

  1. the past tense of bear1

bear1 (bɛə Pronunciation for bear1

Definitions

verb

Word forms:  bears, bearing, bore, borne
mainly tr
  1. to support or hold up; sustain
  2. to bring or convey ⇒ to bear gifts
  3. to take, accept, or assume the responsibility of ⇒ to bear an expense
  4. past participle bornin passive use except when foll by by to give birth to ⇒ to bear children
  5. also intr to produce by or as if by natural growth ⇒ to bear fruit
  6. to tolerate or endure ⇒ she couldn't bear him
  7. to admit of; sustain ⇒ his story does not bear scrutiny
  8. to hold in the conscious mind or in one's feelings ⇒ to bear a grudge, I'll bear that idea in mind
  9. to show or be marked with ⇒ he still bears the scars
  10. to transmit or spread ⇒ to bear gossip
  11. to render or supply (esp in the phrase bear witness)
  12. to conduct or manage (oneself, the body, etc) ⇒ she bore her head high
  13. to have, be, or stand in (relation or comparison) ⇒ his account bears no relation to the facts
  14. intr to move, be located, or lie in a specified direction ⇒ the way bears east
  15. to have by right; be entitled to (esp in the phrase bear title)
  16. See bear a hand

  17. See bring to bear

Word Origin

Old English beran; related to Old Norse bera, Old High German beran to carry, Latin ferre, Greek pherein to bear, Sanskrit bharati he carries

Translations for 'bore'

  • British English: borePronunciation for bore If someone or something bores you, you find them dull and uninteresting.He bored her all through the meal with stories of the Navy.bɔː VERBperson
  • Arabic: يـُمْلِل علىPronunciation for يـُمْلِل على
  • Brazilian Portuguese: entediarPronunciation for entediar
  • Chinese: 烦扰Pronunciation for 烦扰
  • Croatian: dosađivatiPronunciation for dosađivati
  • Czech: nuditPronunciation for nudit
  • Danish: kedePronunciation for kede
  • Dutch: vervelenPronunciation for vervelen
  • European Spanish: aburrirPronunciation for aburrir
  • Finnish: ikävystyttääPronunciation for ikävystyttää
  • French: ennuyerPronunciation for ennuyer
  • German: langweilenPronunciation for langweilen
  • Greek: προκαλώ ανίαPronunciation for προκαλώ ανία
  • Italian: annoiarePronunciation for annoiare
  • Japanese: 穴をあけるPronunciation for 穴をあける
  • Korean: 구멍을 뚫다Pronunciation for 구멍을 뚫다
  • Norwegian: borePronunciation for bore
  • Polish: zanudzićPronunciation for zanudzić zanudzać
  • Portuguese: aborrecerPronunciation for aborrecer
  • Romanian: a plictisi
  • Russian: докучатьPronunciation for докучать
  • Spanish: aburrirPronunciation for aburrir
  • Swedish: tråka utPronunciation for tråka ut
  • Thai: ทำให้เบื่อPronunciation for ทำให้เบื่อ
  • Turkish: canını sıkmakPronunciation for canını sıkmak
  • Ukrainian: надокучати надокучити
  • Vietnamese: làm cho chánPronunciation for làm cho chán
  • British English: bore You describe someone as a bore when you think that they talk in a very uninteresting way. NOUNThere is every reason why I shouldn't enjoy his company–he's a bore and a fool.
  • Brazilian Portuguese: chato chata
  • Chinese: 无聊的家伙无無聊的家傢伙
  • European Spanish: pelmazo pelmaza
  • French: raseur raseuse
  • German: Langweiler
  • Italian: persona noiosa
  • Japanese: 退屈な人
  • Korean: 지루한 사람
  • Portuguese: chato chata
  • Spanish: pelmazo pelmaza
  • British English: bore If you bore a hole in something, you make a deep round hole in it using a special tool. VERBGet the special drill bit to bore the correct size hole for the job.hole
  • Brazilian Portuguese: cavar
  • Chinese: 钻 鑽
  • European Spanish: hacer
  • French: percer
  • German: bohren
  • Italian: farebuco, foro
  • Japanese: 穴をあける
  • Korean: 구멍을 뚫다
  • Portuguese: cavar
  • Spanish: hacer

Example Sentences Including 'bore'

A relationship that fails to affirm them is sure to bore them, creating a desire to look elsewhere.
Michael Geary MOON ASTROLOGY FOR LOVERS (2002)
Adrina bore the insults stoically, letting Cratyn defend his decision to his vassals.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
An alliance with Aragón in the twelfth to fourteenth centuries bore the greatest fruit for the Catalans in terms of glory.
Country Life (2005)
Born in Lugano in 1947, she began her career as a local lawyer, married, and bore a son.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
Every other likely surface in the flat bore a light scattering of powder.
Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)
He studied law and married the daughter of a top military commander who bore him three sons.
Globe and Mail (2003)
Officials said the attack bore little resemblance to four suicide bombings in Istanbul in November that killed dozens of people.
canada.com (2004)
The three policemen watched in silence, not broken till the men bore their sad burden out of the apartment.
Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)
They married in November 1947; Elizabeth bore Prince Charles a year later.
Glasgow Herald (2001)

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