# core

> English word · Noun · IPA /kɔː/ · frequency rank #1,892

## Definitions
1. In general usage, an essential part of a thing surrounded by other essential things.
2. In general usage, an essential part of a thing surrounded by other essential things.
3. In general usage, an essential part of a thing surrounded by other essential things.
4. In general usage, an essential part of a thing surrounded by other essential things.
5. The most important part of a thing or aggregate of things wherever located and whether of any determinate location at all; the essence.
6. The most important part of a thing or aggregate of things wherever located and whether of any determinate location at all; the essence.
7. The most important part of a thing or aggregate of things wherever located and whether of any determinate location at all; the essence.
8. The most important part of a thing or aggregate of things wherever located and whether of any determinate location at all; the essence.
9. particular parts of technical instruments or machines essential in function:
10. particular parts of technical instruments or machines essential in function:
11. particular parts of technical instruments or machines essential in function:
12. particular parts of technical instruments or machines essential in function:
13. particular parts of technical instruments or machines essential in function:
14. particular parts of technical instruments or machines essential in function:
15. particular parts of technical instruments or machines essential in function:
16. particular parts of technical instruments or machines essential in function:
17. Hence particular parts of a subject studied or examined by technical operations, likened by position and practical or structural robustness to kernels, cores in the most vulgar sense above.
18. Hence particular parts of a subject studied or examined by technical operations, likened by position and practical or structural robustness to kernels, cores in the most vulgar sense above.
19. Hence particular parts of a subject studied or examined by technical operations, likened by position and practical or structural robustness to kernels, cores in the most vulgar sense above.
20. Hence particular parts of a subject studied or examined by technical operations, likened by position and practical or structural robustness to kernels, cores in the most vulgar sense above.
21. Hence particular parts of a subject studied or examined by technical operations, likened by position and practical or structural robustness to kernels, cores in the most vulgar sense above.
22. Hence particular parts of a subject studied or examined by technical operations, likened by position and practical or structural robustness to kernels, cores in the most vulgar sense above.

## Etymology
From Middle English core, kore, coor (“apple-core, pith”), of obscure and uncertain origin. Possibly of native English origin, from Old English *cor, related to Old English *coruc, *corc (diminutive) (> Middle English cork, crok (“core of an apple or other fruit, heart of an onion”)) and Old English corn (“seed", also "grain”); or alternatively perhaps from Old French cuer (“heart”), from Latin cor (“heart”); or from Old French cors (“body”), from Latin corpus (“body”). Compare also Middle English colk, coke, coll (“the heart or centre of an apple or onion, core”), Dutch kern (“core”), German Kern (“core”). See also heart, corpse.
Compare typologically Russian серде́чник (serdéčnik), сердцеви́на (serdcevína)) (akin to се́рдце (sérdce), cognate with heart, Latin cor).

## Easily confused with
- **CR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cr)
- **cry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cry)
- **cow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cow)
- **cos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cos)
- **cox** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cox)
- **cue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cue)
- **CPR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cpr)
- **cot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cot)
- **CSR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-csr)
- **coz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-coz)
- **coy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-coy)
- **CRT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-crt)
- **CRM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-crm)
- **CTR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-ctr)
- **cur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cur)
- **CRS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-crs)
- **CRO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cro)
- **CTE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cte)
- **Cov** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cov)
- **CRI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/core-vs-cri)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ccore`, `coer`, `corre`, `croe`, `ocre`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/core