boring

1
[ bawr-ing, bohr- ]
/ ˈbɔr ɪŋ, ˈboʊr- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR boring ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing or marked by boredom: a boring discussion; to have a boring time.

Origin of boring

1
First recorded in 1835–45; bore1 + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM boring

bor·ing·ly, adverb bor·ing·ness, noun

Words nearby boring

boric, boric acid, boric oxide, boricua, boride, boring, boring bar, boring machine, boring mill, boris, boris godunov

Definition for boring (2 of 5)

boring 2
[ bawr-ing, bohr- ]
/ ˈbɔr ɪŋ, ˈboʊr- /

noun

Machinery.
  1. the act or process of making or enlarging a hole.
  2. the hole so made.
Geology. a cylindrical sample of earth strata obtained by boring a vertical hole.
borings, the chips, fragments, or dust produced in boring.

Origin of boring

2
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at bore2, -ing1

Definition for boring (3 of 5)

bore 1
[ bawr, bohr ]
/ bɔr, boʊr /

verb (used with object), bored, bor·ing.

to weary by dullness, tedious repetition, unwelcome attentions, etc.: The long speech bored me.

noun

a dull, tiresome, or uncongenial person.
a cause of ennui or petty annoyance: repetitious tasks that are a bore to do.

Origin of bore

1
First recorded in 1760–70; of uncertain origin

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bore

boar Boer boor bore board bored board bored committee council panel trust

Definition for boring (4 of 5)

bore 2
[ bawr, bohr ]
/ bɔr, boʊr /

verb (used with object), bored, bor·ing.

verb (used without object), bored, bor·ing.

noun

a hole made or enlarged by boring.
the inside diameter of a hole, tube, or hollow cylindrical object or device, such as a bushing or bearing, engine cylinder, or barrel of a gun.

Origin of bore

2
before 900; Middle English; Old English borian; cognate with Old High German borōn, Old Norse bora, Latin forāre

OTHER WORDS FROM bore

bore·a·ble, bor·a·ble, adjective

Definition for boring (5 of 5)

bore 4
[ bawr, bohr ]
/ bɔr, boʊr /

verb

simple past tense of bear1.

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Words related to boring

tedious, mundane, monotonous, stodgy, humdrum, tiring, dull, lifeless, stupid, trite, stuffy, tiresome, tame, uninteresting, stale, flat, commonplace, bomb, bummer, plebeian

Example sentences from the Web for boring

British Dictionary definitions for boring (1 of 6)

boring 1
/ (ˈbɔːrɪŋ) /

noun

  1. the act or process of making or enlarging a hole
  2. the hole made in this way
(often plural) a fragment, particle, chip, etc, produced during boring

British Dictionary definitions for boring (2 of 6)

boring 2
/ (ˈbɔːrɪŋ) /

adjective

dull; repetitious; uninteresting

Derived forms of boring

boringly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for boring (3 of 6)

bore 1
/ (bɔː) /

verb

noun

Word Origin for bore

Old English borian; related to Old Norse bora, Old High German borōn to bore, Latin forāre to pierce, Greek pharos ploughing, phárunx pharynx

British Dictionary definitions for boring (4 of 6)

bore 2
/ (bɔː) /

verb

(tr) to tire or make weary by being dull, repetitious, or uninteresting

noun

a dull, repetitious, or uninteresting person, activity, or state

Derived forms of bore

bored, adjective

Word Origin for bore

C18: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for boring (5 of 6)

bore 3
/ (bɔː) /

noun

a high steep-fronted wave moving up a narrow estuary, caused by the tide

Word Origin for bore

C17: from Old Norse bāra wave, billow

British Dictionary definitions for boring (6 of 6)

bore 4
/ (bɔː) /

verb

the past tense of bear 1

Scientific definitions for boring

bore
[ bôr ]

In fluid mechanics, a jump in the level of moving water, generally propagating in the opposite direction to the current. Strong ocean tides can cause bores to propagate up rivers.
  1. The white, shallow portion of a wave after it breaks. The bore carries ocean water onto the beach.
  2. A tidal wave caused by the surge of a flood tide upstream in a narrowing estuary or by colliding tidal currents.