gore

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈgȯr 

1

: a small usually triangular piece of land

2

a

: a tapering or triangular piece (as of cloth in a skirt)

b

: an elastic gusset for providing a snug fit in a shoe

gore

2 of 4

verb (1)

gored; goring

transitive verb

1

: to cut into a tapering triangular form

2

: to provide with a gore

gore

3 of 4

verb (2)

gored; goring

transitive verb

: to pierce or wound with something pointed (such as a horn or knife)

gored by a bull

gore

4 of 4

noun (2)

1

: blood

especially : clotted blood

2

: gruesomeness depicted in vivid detail

Synonyms

Verb (2)

• harpoon
• impale
• jab
• lance
• peck
• pick
• pierce
• pink
• puncture
• run through
• skewer
• spear
• spike
• spit
• stab
• stick
• transfix
• transpierce

Examples of gore in a Sentence

Verb (2)

running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, may sound like fun, but the bulls have been known to gore runners who get too close

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But after the enormous success of It, a genuinely fantastic and wonderfully barbaric horror flick that managed to strike a chord with the general public despite its gore, the sequel’s budget was nearly doubled from $40 million to nearly $79 million. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024

Often, the effect is comic, particularly with over-the-top violence and gore. —Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024

Verb

The elaborate play features four actors dressed as stereotypical Englishmen being gored in an intricate burst of fight choreography that elicits cheers from the natives. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2024

Last year, a 47-year-old woman was gored by a bison not far from where this most recent incident took place. —Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 3 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English gāra; akin to Old English gār spear, and perhaps to Greek chaion shepherd's staff

Verb (2)

Middle English, probably from gore spear, sword, from Old English gār spear

Noun (2)

Middle English, filth, from Old English gor

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gore

1 of 4 noun

ˈgō(ə)r 

ˈgȯ(ə)r

: a tapering or triangular piece of cloth (as in a skirt)

gore

2 of 4 verb

gored; goring

1

: to cut into a tapering triangular form

2

: to provide with a gore

gore

3 of 4 verb

gored; goring

: to pierce or wound with something pointed (as a tusk or horn)

gore

4 of 4 noun

1

: blood entry 1 sense 1a

especially : clotted blood

2

: violent or bloody images

Etymology

Noun

Old English gāre "triangular piece of land"

Verb

Middle English goren "pierce, gore"

Noun

Old English gor "filth"

Biographical Definition

Gore

biographical name

ˈgȯr 

Albert, Jr. 1948–     American politician and environmentalist; vice president of the U.S. (1993–2001)