core

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈkȯr 

plural cores

often attributive

1

: a central and often foundational part usually distinct from the enveloping part by a difference in nature

the core of the city

: such as

a

: the usually inedible central part of some fruits (such as a pineapple)

especially : the papery or leathery carpels composing the ripened ovary in a pome fruit (such as an apple)

b

: the muscles of the mid-region of the torso

Your core is composed of the muscles that stabilize and move your pelvis, lower back, hips, and trunk.

—Adele Jackson-Gibson

core muscles/strength

core exercises

c

: the place in a nuclear reactor where fission (see fission entry 1 sense 3) occurs

d

: an arrangement of a course of studies that combines under basic topics material from subjects conventionally separated and aims to provide a common background for all students

core curriculum

e

: the portion of a foundry mold that shapes the interior of a hollow casting

f

: a vertical space (as for elevator shafts, stairways, or plumbing apparatus) in a multistory building

g(1)

: a computer memory consisting of an array of cores strung on fine wires

broadly : the internal memory of a computer

(2)

: a tiny doughnut-shaped piece of magnetic material (such as ferrite) used in computer memories

(3)

: a mass of iron serving to concentrate and intensify the magnetic field resulting from a current in a surrounding coil

h

: the central part of a celestial body (such as the earth or sun) usually having different physical properties from the surrounding parts

i

: a nodule of stone (such as flint or obsidian) from which flakes have been struck for making implements

j

: the conducting wire with its insulation in an electric cable

2

a

: a basic, essential, or enduring part (as of an individual, a class, or an entity)

the staff had a core of experts

the core of her beliefs

b

: the essential meaning : gist

the core of the argument

c

: the inmost or most intimate part

honest to the core

3

: a part (such as a thin cylinder of material) removed from the interior of a mass especially to determine composition

core

2 of 4

verb

cored; coring

transitive verb

: to remove a core (see core entry 1 sense 1a) from

core an apple

corer noun

core

3 of 4

noun (2)

chiefly Scotland

: a group of people

CORE

4 of 4

abbreviation

ˈkȯr 

Congress of Racial Equality

Did you know?

Distinguishing Between Core and Corps and Corpse and Corp

These words are frequently confused despite their very different applications. Core and corps both rhyme with more. Core can be a noun, verb, or adjective, but is most often used as a noun to refer to the central or most important part of something (“the core of the issue,” “the Earth’s core”) or to the usually inedible central part of a fruit (“an apple core”). Corps has several meanings, all of which refer to some kind of group: “the Marine Corps,” “the press corps.” Its plural form is also spelled corps (“two corps of reporters”) but is pronounced just as cores is. Unlike in corps, The “p” in corpse and corp is pronounced. Corpse refers to a dead body, and especially to the dead body of a human. Corp is an abbreviation for “corporation” and “corporal.” Corp, corps, and corpse all trace back to the Latin word corpus, meaning “body.” The origin of core is obscure.

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• belly
• blood
• bone(s)
• bosom
• breast
• gut
• heart
• heartstrings
• inner space
• inside
• quick
• soul

Examples of core in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That core of private sector unions, joined later by growing activism in local public sector unions, sustained the city’s labor movement even amid former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s attacks on unions in the 2010s. —TIME, 2 Apr. 2024

While the core of its female empowerment message was largely praised, some pointed out the dangers of portraying misogyny as deriving from incompetence rather than malice. —Issy Ronald, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024

The name of the aviation business that is essentially the remaining core of GE, headed by CEO Larry Culp, is GE Aerospace. —Michelle Chapman, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024

These are a handful of the early results from the European Union’s Innovation Fund, a €40 billion ($43 billion) investment vehicle at the core of Europe’s plans to overhaul its economy to be zero-carbon by the middle of the century. —John Ainger, Fortune Europe, 2 Apr. 2024

Unlike Chapek, who centralized authority and alienated creative talent with high-profile spats, Iger understands that Disney at its core is a storytelling company–and knows how to make good movies. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024

Powerful Performance Meets Intelligent Design At the core of the AquaSense's exceptional performance are its dual 2x2 independent roller brushes, now extra-long to cover more ground in a single sweep, and a brushless main-pump motor that boasts a remarkable 5500 GPH suction power. —William Mullane, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024

Nearly three years removed from the collapse of Champlain Towers South that killed 98 people and shook the town to its core, Surfside is deeply divided, with a political scene that seems to be messier than ever before. —Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024

The core tenets of EA still constitute meaningful contributions to the discourse on philanthropy and social impact. —James Broughel, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Verb

Where the 7 Gen 3 has three performance cores at 2.40GHz, the 7+ has four at 2.60GHz. —Sarah Lord, PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2024

For example, the number of AI cores on the chip has significantly leveled off, as has the amount of memory and the internal bandwidth. —IEEE Spectrum, 13 Mar. 2024

Use these simple instructions: Peel and core an apple, then cut it in half horizontally. —Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024

Workers are stripping off brick, punching windows, and coring out two giant vertical doughnut holes to make a pair of central courts that will funnel light and air down into the building’s dark heart. —Curbed, 24 Jan. 2024

Internal turbulence causes the gas to become compressed, which quickly leads to the formation of filaments and then cores. —Nia Imara, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024

Tippett s cored on a power play for his 21st with 1:37 left in the second but Hischier tallied his 18th early in the third for a 5-2 lead. —Tom Canavan, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2024

If preparing baked apples for a party, plan on one apple per person. Prepare the Apples Wash, dry, and core the apples. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2023

Alternatively, peel and core the tomatoes, then run them through a blender on the lowest speed. —Emily Horton, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, of obscure origin

Verb

Middle English coren, derivative of core core entry 1

Noun (2)

perhaps by respelling of Middle English chore "chorus, company," borrowed from Latin chorus — more at chorus entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1622, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing core

• core city
• core inflation
• rotten to the core
• soft-core
• hard core
• to the core
• shaken to the core
• core competencies

Kids Definition

core

1 of 2 noun

ˈkō(ə)r 

ˈkȯ(ə)r

1

: a central or most important part

2

: the usually inedible central part of some fruits (as a pineapple or apple)

3

: a part removed from the interior of a mass especially to find out the interior composition or a hidden condition

took a core of rock

4

a

: a mass of iron used to concentrate and strengthen the magnetic field resulting from a current in a surrounding coil

b

: the memory of a computer

5

: the central part of the earth having different properties from those of the surrounding parts

also : the central part of a heavenly body

6

: an arrangement of studies that brings together material from subjects that are usually taught separately

7

: the place in a nuclear reactor where fission takes place

core

2 of 2 verb

cored; coring

: to remove a core from

core an apple

corer noun

Medical Definition

core

noun

ˈkō(ə)r, ˈkȯ(ə)r 

: the central part of a body, mass, or part