C.O.R.E.

core¹ «kr, kohr», noun, verb, cored, cor|ing, adj.

–n.

1. the hard, central part, containing the seeds, of fruits like apples and pears: »

After eating the apple he threw the core away.

2. Figurative. the central or most important part: »

the core of an argument. That boy is honest to the core. The Muslim community on the north side of the Tyne is more compact, consisting of a core of some sixty families (Anthony H. Richmond).

SYNONYM(S): essence, kernel, nucleus.

3. the heart: »

The desertion of his dog had touched him to the core (Edward Bulwer-Lytton).

4. Electricity. a) a bar of soft iron, bundle of iron wires, or the like, forming the center of an electromagnet, induction coil, etc., and serving to increase and concentrate the induced magnetic field. b) the conducting wire and its insulation in a subterranean or submarine cable.

5. Metallurgy. an inner mold made of sand and other ingredients filling the space to be left hollow in a casting.

6. a) the heartwood of a tree. b) the lumber from this wood, usually soft and inexpensive, used as a base for veneers.

7. the central strand of a rope around which other strands are woven.

8. a cylindrical portion of rock or other material extracted from the center of a mass by cutting or drilling.

9. Chemistry. the nucleus of an atom and the inner shells of electrons.

10. Geology. the central portion of the earth, lying below the mantle.

11. Physics. the part of a nuclear reactor containing fissionable material.

12. Electronics. a magnetic core.

–v.t.

to take out the core of: »

The cook cored the apples.

–adj.

central; basic: »

Deterring such an attack has been the core reason for NATO's existence (Time). The Fed decided the core questions of regulating the money supply (New Yorker).

╂[Middle English core; origin uncertain]

core² «kr, kohr», noun.

1. a body of people; company.

2. the company of players in a curling match.

╂[an English spelling of French corps body]

CORE (no periods) or C.O.R.E.,

Congress of Racial Equality.