I. ˈbō(ə)r, ˈbȯ(ə)r, ˈbōə, ˈbȯ(ə) verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English boren, from Old English borian; akin to Old High German borōn to bore, Old Norse bora, Latin forare to bore, ferire to strike, Greek pharos plow, Russian borona harrow
transitive verb
1. : to pierce especially by or as if by means of a rotatory tool (as a drill, auger, or gimlet)
boring a plank at 5-inch intervals
: make a cylindrical opening in or through by removal of material
a tree with its center bored out
: make a hole in or through : penetrate
2.
a. : to form or construct by boring
a tunnel was bored through the mountain
: sink (as a mine shaft or a well) by boring
b. : to hollow out evenly : enlarge (a roughly formed hole) and finish true to size and center by internal turning against a boring tool
3. of a horse : to push or thrust aside
the leading racehorse bored the closest competitor off course
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to make a hole by boring
insects that bore into trees
: sink a mine shaft, well, or other cylindrical opening by boring
bore for oil
b. : to become pierced or penetrated by an instrument that cuts as it turns
this timber does not bore well
2.
a. : to make one's way laboriously
we bored through the jostling crowds
b. : to move ahead steadily : push forward with constant irresistible force
in spite of furious antiaircraft fire, waves of planes bored in over the city
3. of a horse : to thrust the head forward and downward putting weight on the bit
4. : to stare with a fixed penetrating gaze
his eyes were still boring into vacancy — William DuBois
Synonyms: see perforate
•
- bore from within
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from boren, v., and Old Norse bora hole made by boring (akin to Old Norse bora to bore)
1. : a hole made by or as if by boring: as
a. Scotland : crevice , chink
b.
(1) : a deep vertical hole (as a mine shaft or well)
(2) Australia : a water hole for cattle
c. : a surface opening or outlet (as of a geyser)
d. : tunnel
2.
a. : an interior cylindrical opening usually running the entire or nearly the entire length of an object
the bore of a thermometer
the bore of an artery
b. : the interior tube of a gun:
(1) : the interior tube of old muzzle-loading ordnance including cylinder and, if present, chamber and the part connecting cylinder and chamber — see cannon illustration
(2) : the interior tube of modern breech-loading ordnance ; especially : that between the muzzle and the forward end of the chamber
3.
a. : the size of a hole
b. : the interior diameter of a tube (as of a hypodermic needle or a gun barrel) : caliber , gauge
c. : the diameter of an engine cylinder
4. : a tool (as an auger) for boring
III.
past or dialect past part of bear
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: from (assumed) Middle English bore wave, from Old Norse bāra; probably akin to Old English beran to carry — more at bear
: a tidal flood that regularly or occasionally rushes with a roaring noise into certain rivers (as the Amazon in So. America) or narrow bays (as the Bay of Fundy) of peculiar configuration or location and proceeds in one or more waves that often present a very abrupt front of considerable height dangerous to shipping
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: perhaps alteration of obsolete bourd to make a fool of, jest with, jest, from Middle English bourden to jest, from Middle French bourder, border, from Old French, from bourde, borde jest
obsolete : to make a fool of : trick
VI. like bore I noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
: a cause of ennui:
a. : a dull tiresome annoying person
a loquacious self-centered bore
b. : something that is monotonous, wearisome, and tediously devoid of interest
an evening that turned out to be one long bore
VII. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to afflict with ennui : depress, weary, and annoy by dullness : crush with irksome tediousness
bored by the same old facts — Marston Bates