Definition of 'pour'

Word Frequency

pour

(pɔːʳ )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense pours , present participle pouring , past tense, past participle poured

1. verb

If you pour a liquid or other substance, you make it flow steadily out of a container by holding the container at an angle.

Pour a pool of sauce on two plates and arrange the meat neatly. [VERB noun preposition]

Francis poured milk into a glass. [VERB noun preposition]

Heat the oil in a non-stick frying-pan, then pour in the egg mixture. [VERB noun with adverb]

Synonyms: let flow, spill, splash, dribble More Synonyms of pour

2. verb

If you pour someone a drink, you put some of the drink in a cup or glass so that they can drink it.

He got up and poured himself another drink. [VERB noun noun]

She asked Tillie to pour her a cup of coffee. [VERB noun noun]

Quietly Mark poured and served drinks for all of them. [VERB noun + for]

[Also VERB noun]

3. verb

When a liquid or other substance pours somewhere, for example through a hole, it flows quickly and in large quantities.

Blood was pouring from his broken nose. [VERB preposition/adverb]

There was dense smoke pouring from all four engines. [VERB preposition/adverb]

Tears poured down both our faces. [VERB preposition/adverb]

The tide poured in from the south. [VERB preposition/adverb]

Synonyms: flow, stream, run, course More Synonyms of pour

4. verb [usually cont]

When it rains very heavily, you can say that it is pouring.

It has been pouring almost non stop for the past three days, disrupting normal life. [it VERB]

It has been pouring with rain all week. [VERB]

The rain was pouring down. [V down]

We drove all the way through pouring rain. [VERB-ing]

Synonyms: rain, sheet, pelt (down), teem More Synonyms of pour

5. verb

If people pour into or out of a place, they go there quickly and in large numbers.

Any day now, the Northern forces may pour across the new border. [VERB preposition/adverb]

Holidaymakers continued to pour down to the coast in search of surf and sun. [VERB preposition/adverb]

At six p.m. large groups poured from the numerous offices. [VERB preposition/adverb]

6. verb

If something such as information pours into a place, a lot of it is obtained or given.

Martin, 78, died yesterday. Tributes poured in from around the globe. [VERB adverb/preposition]

The commission has invited interested parties to submit comments, and these are now pouring in. [VERB adverb/preposition]

See pour cold water on

8. to pour scorn on something

Phrasal verbs:

See pour into

See pour out

More Synonyms of pour

Video: pronunciation of
pour

pour in British English

(pɔː )

verb

to flow or cause to flow in a stream

2. (transitive)

to issue, emit, etc, in a profuse way

3. Also: pour with rain (intransitive; often foll by down)

to rain heavily

it's pouring down outside

4. (intransitive)

to move together in large numbers; swarm

5. (intransitive)

to serve tea, coffee, etc

shall I pour?

6. it never rains but it pours

7. pour cold water on

8. pour oil on troubled waters

noun

a pouring, downpour, etc

▶ USAGE The verbs pour and pore are sometimes confused: she poured cream over her strudel; she pored (not poured) over the manuscript

Derived forms

pourer (ˈpourer)

noun

Word origin

C13: of unknown origin

Word Frequency

pour in American English

(pɔr )

verb transitive

to cause to flow in a continuous stream

to emit, discharge, supply, utter, etc. profusely or steadily

verb intransitive

to flow freely, continuously, or copiously

to rain heavily

to rush in a crowd; swarm

6. US

to serve as a hostess at a reception or the like by pouring the tea, coffee, etc. for the guests

noun

an act of pouring

a heavy rain or downpour

Idioms:

pour it on

Derived forms

pourer (ˈpourer)

noun

Word origin

ME pouren < ?

Word Frequency

pour in Hospitality 1

(pɔr)

Word forms: (present) pours, (past) poured, (perfect) poured, (progressive) pouring

verb

(Hospitality (hotel): Food and drink, cooking)

If you pour a liquid or other substance, you make it flow steadily out of a container by holding the container at an angle.

Pour sauce on two plates and arrange the meat neatly.

The server poured juice into a glass.

Pour water into the coffee maker.

Word Frequency

pour in Hospitality 2

(pɔr)

Word forms: (present) pours, (past) poured, (perfect) poured, (progressive) pouring

verb

(Hospitality (hotel): Food and drink, cooking)

If you pour someone a drink, you put some of the drink in a cup or glass so that they can drink it.

He poured the customer another drink.

The bartender poured her a glass of water.

Pour me a cup of tea, please.

Example sentences including
pour

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Pour the liquid mixture into the well and stir quickly with a wooden spoon. Remove from the heat and pour into pretty glasses or ramekins. Bring quickly to the boil then pour it over the mussels.Pour the liquid into the slow cooker.He turns up at her party and she pours a drink over him after telling him where to go. Come in, pour yourself a coffee and grab a slice of cake. Rebel Socialist MPs poured scorn on their leader.The following morning, I pour some coffee into a tin cup and wander over to the fire pit.The guy pouring the coffee nodded agreement.He is then seen pouring a container of liquid into one of the machines.