pore

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A tiny opening in the skin.

   I could sense the sweat dripping out of all my pores.

2. 2
   noun

   By extension any small opening or interstice, especially one of many, or one allowing the passage of a fluid.

   The pores of a rock.

3. 3
   verb

   To study meticulously; to go over again and again.

   Yet each foreign post day she watched for the arrival of letters - knew the postmark, and watched me as I read. I found her often poring over the articles of Greek intelligence in the newspaper.

4. 4
   noun

   any small opening in the skin or outer surface of an animal

From Middle English poren, pouren, puren (“to gaze intently, look closely”), from Old English *pūrian, from Proto-West Germanic *pūrōn, suggested by Old English spyrian (“to investigate, examine”). Akin to Saterland Frisian puurje (“to question, investigate; pry, prod”), West Frisian poarje (“to poke, prod”), Middle Dutch poren (“to pore, look”), Dutch porren (“to poke, prod, stir, encourage, endeavour, attempt”), Low German purren (“to poke, stir”), Danish purre (“to poke, stir, rouse”), dialectal Swedish pora, pura, påra (“to work slowly and gradually, work deliberately”), Old English spor (...

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