often attributive
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
plural ore
a monetary subunit of the krona (Sweden) and krone see krona, krone at Money Table

Ore

3 of 4

abbreviation

variants or Oreg
Oregon
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

Examples of ore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Ready to load iron ore pellets, the laker arrived in subzero temperatures, which didn’t stop visitors from bracing the cold to photograph the ship’s arrival. Wyatt Buckner, Twin Cities, 17 Dec. 2024 The project represents an important step toward Vale’s iron ore production guidance of 340-360 Mt in 2026. Trefis Team, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 Displays include holiday lasers on the ore dock, downtown district lights, an interactive art installation that uses light, sound, and movement, a holiday parade, tree lighting, and a yule market. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 5 Dec. 2024 In Kolwezi, hundreds of thousands of people survive by prising ore out of the ground with rudimentary tools such as spades and picks. Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ore 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

Swedish öre & Danish & Norwegian øre

Noun (3)

Danish & Norwegian, from Latin aureus a gold coin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ore was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near ore

Cite this Entry

“Ore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ore. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

ore

1 of 2 noun
: a mineral mined to obtain a substance that it contains
iron ore

ore

2 of 2 noun
ˈər-ə
plural ore
: a unit of value equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀ krona or ¹⁄₁₀₀ krone
Etymology

Noun

Swedish öre and Danish and Norwegian øre

More from Merriam-Webster on ore

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