n. & v.
--n.
1. the horny central part of various fruits, containing the seeds.
2 a the central or most important part of anything (also attrib. : core curriculum). b the central part, of different character from the surroundings.
3 the central region of the earth.
4 the central part of a nuclear reactor, containing the fissile material.
5 a magnetic structural unit in a computer, storing one bit of data (see BIT(4)).
6 the inner strand of an electric cable, rope, etc.
7 a piece of soft iron forming the centre of an electromagnet or an induction coil.
8 an internal mould filling a space to be left hollow in a casting.
9 the central part cut out (esp. of rock etc. in boring).
10 Archaeol. a piece of flint from which flakes or blades have been removed.
--v.tr. remove the core from.
Phrases and idioms:
core memory Computing the memory of a computer consisting of many cores. core time (in a flexitime system) the central part of the working day, when all employees must be present.
Derivatives:
corer n.
Etymology: ME: orig. unkn.