Pour Meaning

/pɔː/
A2

Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Listen pronunciation

verbTo cause (liquid, or liquid-like substance) to flow in a stream, either out of a container or into it.

verbTo send out as in a stream or a flood; to cause (an emotion) to come out; to cause to escape.

Pour melted butter over the popcorn.
Don't pour hot water into the glass or it will crack.
Pour the sauce over the pasta.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
She had to ____ the water from the pitcher into the glass carefully.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She began to ____ the batter slowly into the hot pan, watching it spread into a perfect circle.

From Middle English pouren (“to pour”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Old Northern French purer (“to sift (grain), pour out (water)”), from Latin pūrō (“to purify”), from pūrus (“pure”). Compare Middle Dutch afpuren (“to pour off, drain”). To pour displaced several Middle English verbs: * schenchen, schenken (“to pour”), from Old English sċenċan (“to pour out”) and Old Norse skenkja, from Proto-Germanic *skankijaną. Compare dialectal English shink, skink. * yeten, from Old English ġēotan (“to pour”), from Proto-Germanic *geutaną. * birlen (“to pour, serve drink to”), from Old English byrelian (“to pour, serve drink to”). * hellen (“to pour, pour out”), from Old Norse hella (“to pour out, incline”). * temen (“to pour out, empty”), from Old Norse tœma (“to pour out, empty”). Compare archaic English teem.

"How London doth pour out her citizens." — 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, prologue]:
"[…] I haue drunke neither wine nor strong drinke, but haue powred out my soule before the Lord." — 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 1:15:
"Now will I shortly powre out my furie vpon thee, and accomplish mine anger vpon thee[…]" — 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ezekiel 7:8:
"Wherefore did Nature pour her bounties forth / With such a full and unwithdrawing hand?" — 1637, John Milton, A Mask presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634, lines 710-711:
"At the same time, it is pouring money into cleaning up the country." — 2013 August 10, “Can China clean up fast enough?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:

Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words

CEFR Practice Quiz
She had to ____ the water from the pitcher into the glass carefully.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She began to ____ the batter slowly into the hot pan, watching it spread into a perfect circle.

Expand Your Vocabulary with LexUp

Master English words using smart flashcards, play exciting word rounds, and compete with other learners worldwide.

Browse CEFR Words Alphabetically