ENGLISH
REFERENCE

chore

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈtʃɔɹ// UK //tʃˈɔː// chore Archaic Dialect

n. a small job you have to do regularly, like cleaning your room or washing dishes. It is usually a task that is boring but necessary.

n. a routine task, especially a household one. Often carries a connotation of being tedious or unpleasant.


SIMPLE

Doing the laundry is my least favorite chore.

CONTEXTUAL

The children are expected to finish their daily chores before they are allowed to play video games.

COMPLEX

What was once a labor of love had become a repetitive chore, draining the artist of the creative energy that had originally fueled the project.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From earlier char, from Middle English charr, charre, cherre (“odd job, turn, occasion, business”), from Old English ċerr, ċierr (“a turn”), from ċierran (“to turn”), from Proto-Germanic karzijaną (“to turn”), from Proto-Indo-European gers- (“to bend, turn”). Cognate with Dutch keer (“time; turn; occasion”), German Kehre (“a turn; bend; wind; back-flip; u-turn”). Also related to Saterland Frisian kiere, käire (“to turn”), Old Saxon kērian, Old High German chēran (“to turn”) (German kehren (“to turn”), Dutch keren (“to turn”)). See also char.

Etymology 2

Possibly derived from Romani ćor (“thief”), see also Geordie word chor.

Usage

Commonly used in the plural ('chores') when referring to general housework.

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