bore

For the verb: "to bear"

Simple Past:	bore
Past Participle:	borne, born

Multiple Entries:
  bore    bear  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bore1

▶verb

• 1 make (a hole) in something with a drill or other tool.

  ■ hollow out (a gun barrel or other tube).

• 2 (of an athlete or racehorse) push another competitor out of the way.

▶noun the hollow part inside a gun barrel or other tube.

■ the diameter of this: a small-bore rifle.

– origin OE borian (v.), of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bore2

▶noun a dull and uninteresting person or activity. ▶verb cause (someone) to feel weary and uninterested by being dull and tedious.

– origin C18: of unknown origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bore3

▶noun a steep-fronted wave caused by the meeting of two tides or by a tide rushing up a narrow estuary.

– origin C17: perh. from ON bára ‘wave’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bore4

past of bear1.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bear1

▶verb (past bore; past part. borne)

• 1 carry or convey.

  ■ have as an attribute or visible mark.

• 2 support (a weight).

• 3 [with neg.] manage to tolerate: I can't bear it.

• 4 give birth to (a child).

  ■ (of a tree or plant) produce (fruit or flowers).

• 5 turn and proceed in a specified direction: bear left.

• 6 (bear oneself) conduct oneself in a specified manner.

– phrases
bear someone a grudge nurture a feeling of resentment against someone.
bear in mind remember and take into account.
bear someone malice (or ill will) wish someone harm.
bear witness (or testimony) to testify to.
be borne in upon come to be realized by.
bring to bear

• 1 muster and use to effect.

• 2 aim (a weapon).

– phrasal verbs
bear down (of a woman in labour) exert downwards pressure in order to push the baby out.
bear down on approach in a purposeful or intimidating manner.
bear off (or away) Sailing change course away from the wind.
bear on be relevant to.
bear something out support or confirm something.
bear up remain cheerful in the face of adversity.
bear with be patient or tolerant with.

– derivatives
bearable adjective,
bearability noun,
bearably adverb.

– origin OE beran, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bear2

▶noun

• 1 a large, heavy mammal which walks on the soles of its feet, having thick fur and a very short tail. [Family Ursidae: several species.]

• 2 Stock Exchange a person who sells shares hoping to buy them back later at a lower price. Often contrasted with bull1.

  ■ [said to be from a proverb warning against ‘selling the bear's skin before one has caught the bear’.]

• 3 a rough or bad-mannered person.

– phrases
like a bear with a sore head Brit. informal very irritable.
loaded for bear N. Amer. informal fully prepared for a confrontation or challenge.

– origin OE bera, of W. Gmc origin.