pour

Where “pour” sits in English frequency

Definition

1. 1
   To cause (liquid, or liquid-like substance) to flow in a stream, either out of a container or into it.
2. 2
   To send out as in a stream or a flood; to cause (an emotion) to come out; to cause to escape.
3. 3
   To send forth from, as in a stream; to discharge uninterruptedly.
4. 4
   To flow, pass, or issue in a stream; to fall continuously and abundantly.
5. 5
   To rain hard.
6. 6
   Of a beverage, to be on tap or otherwise available for serving to customers.
7. 7
   To move in a throng, as a crowd.
8. 8
   To move (a drunk or unsteady person) into or out of a place or vehicle.

Etymology

From Middle English pouren (“to pour”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Old Northern French purer (“to sift (grain), pour out (water)”), from Latin pūrō (“to purify”), from pūrus (“pure”). Compare Middle Dutch afpuren (“to pour off, drain”). To pour displaced several Middle English verbs: * schenchen, schenken (“to pour”), from Old English sċenċan (“to pour out”) and Old Norse skenkja, from Proto-Germanic *skankijaną. Compare dialectal English shink, skink. * yeten, from Old English ġēotan (“to pour”), from Proto-Germanic *geutaną. * birlen (“to pour, serve drink to”), from Old English byrelian (“to pour, serve drink to”). * hellen (“to pour, pour out”), from Old Norse hella (“to pour out, incline”). * temen (“to pour out, empty”), from Old Norse tœma (“to pour out, empty”). Compare archaic English teem.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: opur,poru,pourr,ppour,puor

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pour - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

Frequently Asked Questions