Etymology From Middle English boren, from Old English borian (“to pierce”), from Proto-West Germanic *borōn, from Proto-Germanic *burōną. Compare Danish bore, Norwegian Bokmål bore, Dutch boren, German bohren, Old Norse bora. Cognate with Latin forō (“to bore, to pierce”), Latin feriō (“strike, cut”) and Albanian birë (“hole”). Sense of wearying may come from a figurative use such as "to bore the ears"; compare German drillen.
Reading books really bores me; films are much more exciting.
2 more examples
He bores me with some trick.1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 206:
[…] used to come and bore me at rare intervals.1881, Thomas Carlyle, Reminiscences:
2
To make a hole through something.
I'll believe as soon this whole earth may be bored.c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
On June 8, 1872, the London & North Western Railway obtained powers to quadruple its main line, and a new tunnel was bored for the up and down slow lines.1950 September, “Network News: Watford Tunnel, L.M.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 641:
3
To make a hole with, or as if with, a boring instrument; to cut a circular hole by the rotary motion of a tool.
to bore for water or oil
An insect bores into a tree.
4
To form or enlarge (something) by means of a boring instrument or apparatus.
to bore a steam cylinder or a gun barrel; to bore a hole
short but very powerful jaws, by means whereof the insect can bore […] a cylindrical passage through the most solid wood1862, Thaddeus William Harris, A Treatise on Some of the Insects Injurious to Vegetation:
5
To make (a passage) by laborious effort, as in boring; to force a narrow and difficult passage through.
to bore one’s way through a crowd
What bustling crowds I bored.[1716], [John] Gay, “Book III. Of Walking the Streets by Night.”, in Trivia: Or, The Art of Walking the Streets of London, London: […] Bernard Lintott, […], →OCLC, page 79:
6
To be pierced or penetrated by an instrument that cuts as it turns.
This timber does not bore well.
7
To glare (as if to drill a hole with the eyes).
Their eyes bore into my back.
8
Hobbies, Lifestyle, SportsSlang To push or drive (a boxer into the ropes, a boat out of its course, etc.).
The right hand of Curtis was open too much ; but he nevertheless had the best of the hitting in this round, till Inglis bored him down, out of the ropes.1824, Pierce Egan, Boxiana; Or, Sketches of Ancient and Modern Pugilism, page 600:
Hanlan, it seems, led at about a mile, when Beach's steamer bored him, and to avoid the danger of being swamped, he put on a violent spurt and drew well clear of Beach, getting some lengths lead.1885, Tresham Gilbey, Baily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes, volume 43, page 107:
9
To push forward in a certain direction with laborious effort.
They take their flight […] boring to the west.1697, Virgil, “The Third Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
Etymology From Middle English boren, from Old English borian (“to pierce”), from Proto-West Germanic *borōn, from Proto-Germanic *burōną. Compare Danish bore, Norwegian Bokmål bore, Dutch boren, German bohren, Old Norse bora. Cognate with Latin forō (“to bore, to pierce”), Latin feriō (“strike, cut”) and Albanian birë (“hole”). Sense of wearying may come from a figurative use such as "to bore the ears"; compare German drillen.
A hole drilled, bored, or milled through something.
the bore of a cannon
the bores of wind-instruments1631, Francis [Bacon], “II. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 53:
2
The diameter of such a hole.
3
Especially The diameter of a cylinder in a piston engine or compressor.
The bore times the stroke times the number of cylinders equals displacement.
4
The tunnel inside of a gun's barrel through which the bullet travels when fired, or (by extension) its diameter.
5
A tool, such as an auger, for making a hole by boring.
6
A capped well drilled to tap artesian water.
7
The place where such a well exists.
8
One who inspires boredom or lack of interest; an uninteresting person.
My neighbour is such a bore when he talks about his coin collection.
9
Something dull or uninteresting.
What a bore that movie was! There was no action, and the dialogue was totally uncreative.
It is as great a bore as to hear a poet read his own verses.1871, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Passages from the French and Italian Notebooks:
10
Calibre; importance.
Yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi]:
Etymology From Middle English *bore, bare, a borrowing from Old Norse bára (“billow, wave”), from Proto-Germanic *bērō (“that which bears or carries”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear”). Cognate with Icelandic bára (“billow, wave”), Faroese bára (“billow, wave”). Doublet of bier.
1
A sudden and rapid flow of tide occurring in certain rivers and estuaries which rolls up as a wave.
In another moment a huge wave, like a muddy tidal bore, but almost scaldingly hot, came sweeping round the bend up-stream.1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 102: