ore

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈȯr How to pronounce ore (audio)
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

ore

2 of 4

noun (2)

ˈər-ə How to pronounce ore (audio)
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

øre

4 of 4

noun (3)

ˈər-ə How to pronounce øre (audio)
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
The refinery will also accept third-party domestic and allied ore, potentially expanding its feedstock beyond Felix Gold’s Alaskan Treasure Creek project. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026 The vessel transporting iron ore to China was carrying 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi, according to the coast guard. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Minnesota's Iron Range has a history of iron ore mining dating back to the 1880s. — Erin Hassanzadeh, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Grade, deposit size, continuity, depth, and metallurgical characteristics all affect whether ore can be processed efficiently. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 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

Phrases Containing ore

Rhymes for ore

See All Rhymes for ore

Browse Nearby Words

ordure
ore
Ore
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ore. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

ore

1 of 2 noun
ˈō(ə)r How to pronounce ore (audio)
ˈȯ(ə)r
: 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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ore

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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