core

1 of 4

noun (1)

plural cores
often attributive
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

Congress of Racial Equality

Did you know?

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.

Examples of core in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Smith managed to get all his players into the game, and the Aztecs return the core of their team. John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 Such questions were at the core of the Oppenheimer film, a blockbuster now nominated for more than a dozen Oscars. Kc Cole, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 Recommended At the core of the debate, however, are deeper strategic questions: How important for Western Europe’s future is the Ukraine war? Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024 At its core, the free market thrives on competition, efficiency, and adaptability. Carlos Curbelo, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 That debate ratcheted up again during the pandemic when millions of white collar renters, suddenly freed from the office, sought out more space further from the country’s urban cores. Calmatters, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2024 Electrify America spokesperson Tara Geiger said in a statement that Gig attempted to stay beyond its three-year contract by expanding service beyond the downtown core and introducing multi-day rentals. Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 Europe’s shifting digital landscape also is forcing changes at other technology powerhouses such as Google and Facebook, but the new regulations strike at the core of Apple’s philosophy of maintaining ironclad control over every aspect of its products. Michael Liedtke, Fortune Europe, 7 Mar. 2024 Everyone privy to the plan knew that Henry’s charter plane, a 13-seat Gulfstream, could not land directly in Port-au-Prince, where gangs had encircled the main airport, part of a broad and unprecedented assault on the country’s core institutions. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
Internal turbulence causes the gas to become compressed, which quickly leads to the formation of filaments and then cores. Nia Imara, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 Tippett s cored on a power play for his 21st with 1:37 left in the second but Hischier tallied his 18th early in the third for a 5-2 lead. Tom Canavan, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2024 If preparing baked apples for a party, plan on one apple per person. Prepare the Apples Wash, dry, and core the apples. Patricia S York, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2023 Alternatively, peel and core the tomatoes, then run them through a blender on the lowest speed. Emily Horton, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The Ryzen 5 8500G is a lot different from the 8700G and 8600G, since some of the CPU cores in the Phoenix 2 chips are based on Zen 4c rather than Zen 4. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2024 As polarization in society and politics has increased, more executives have burned themselves than gained universal praise when speaking out on issues not core to their business. Peter Vanham, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2024 Eventually humans took up the cause, tossing apple cores along roadsides or planting seeds deliberately. Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Dec. 2023 The four campaigned as a slate, emphasizing what many residents see as issues core to daily life in Huntington Beach. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'core.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near core

Cite this Entry

“Core.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/core. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

: the central part of a body, mass, or part

More from Merriam-Webster on core

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