/awr, ohr/ , n.
1. a metal-bearing mineral or rock, or a native metal, that can be mined at a profit.
2. a mineral or natural product serving as a source of some nonmetallic substance, as sulfur.
[ bef. 900; conflation of ME ore, OE ora ore, unreduced metal; and ME or(e) ore, metal, OE ar brass, c. OS, OHG er, ON eir, Goth aiz; cf. L aes bronze, coin, money ]