core

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈkȯr How to pronounce core (audio)
plural cores
often attributive
Synonyms of corenext
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 How to pronounce CORE (audio)
Congress of Racial Equality

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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)

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of core in a Sentence

Noun (1) in my very core I knew that an injustice was being committed the capitol building is the core of the political life of the state at last, we come to the core of the issue that has been dividing us a starfish can even survive the division of its core into two parts; both halves then regenerate the mountain rises from ground that is almost precisely at the island's core
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
The core question, however, is whether these changes will be enough to help Starbucks compete in a crowded market, according to Deidre Popovich, an associate professor of marketing at Texas Tech University. —Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024 The system, which has 50 stations across all five counties in the core Bay Area, has a total ridership of more than 4.8 million. —Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
They are simply halved and cored, which creates a handy and tasty vessel for the oat and walnut streusel topping mounded in their centers. —Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024 To recall, the Snapdragon 8 Gen series used to have Arm’s Cortex series cores, but the Snapdragon 8 Elite uses in-house custom CPU cores called Oryon, based on Arm architecture. —Prakhar Khanna, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for core 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of core was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing core

Dictionary Entries Near core

Cordyluridae

core

CORE

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Core.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/core. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

core

1 of 2 noun
ˈkō(ə)r How to pronounce core (audio)
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 How to pronounce core (audio)
: the central part of a body, mass, or part

More from Merriam-Webster on core

Nglish: Translation of core for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of core for Arabic Speakers

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