por´er

pore¹ «pr, pohr», intransitive verb, pored, por|ing.

1. to gaze earnestly or steadily: »

She pored over the picture book in silence enjoying the colors.

2. to study long and steadily: »

He would rather pore over a book than play.

3. to meditate or ponder intently: »

He pored over the problem until he solved it.

╂[Middle English pouren; origin uncertain]

–por´er, noun.

pore² «pr, pohr», noun.

1. a very small opening. Sweat comes through the pores in the human skin, and pores in leaves allow for the passage of water and carbon dioxide. The surfaces of pottery and lumber have pores. »

Like human skin, soil has holes that are called pores (Science News Letter).

2. Astronomy. one of many dark spots on the surface of the sun.

╂[< Old French pore, learned borrowing from Latin porus < Greek póros (literally) passa< perân to penetrate, pass]