ore

noun, often attributive \ ˈȯr \

Definition of ore

1 : a naturally occurring mineral containing a valuable constituent (such as metal) for which it is mined and worked

2 : a source from which valuable matter is extracted

Origin and Etymology of ore

Middle English or, oor, partly from Old English ōra ore; partly from Old English ār brass; akin to Old High German ēr bronze, Latin aes copper, bronze

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Mining and Drilling Terms

trepan, wildcat

ore

noun \ ˈər-ə \

Definition of ore

plural ore

a monetary subunit of the krona (Sweden) and krone — see krona, krone at Money Table

Origin and Etymology of ore

Swedish öre & Danish & Norwegian øre

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1884

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Ore

abbreviation

variants: or Oreg

Definition of Ore

Oregon

øre

noun \ ˈər-ə \

Definition of øre

plural øre

1 : a Danish monetary unit equal to ¹/₁₀₀ krone — see krone at Money Table; also : a coin representing one Danish øre

Note: Denmark's Faeroe Islands and Greenland also use an øre.

2 : a Norwegian monetary unit equal to ¹/₁₀₀ krone — see krone at Money Table; also : a coin representing one Norwegian øre

There's more!

Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with: