English Reference
noun

lore

n.
US /ˈɫɔɹ/ UK /lˈɔː/ lore UK spelling lores

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    traditional knowledge, stories, or beliefs about a particular subject that are passed down through time.

    a body of traditions and knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group, typically transmitted orally.

    Simple

    The old sailor shared local lore about the mysterious creatures living in the deep sea.

    In context

    Local lore suggests that the ruins were once a temple, though archaeological evidence remains inconclusive regarding their original purpose.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate InformalSlang

    the detailed history and background information of a fictional world, such as in a video game or book series.

    the collective backstory and world-building elements established for a fictional universe or character.

    Simple

    I spent all weekend reading the lore of the game to understand why the two kingdoms were at war.

    In context

    Fans spent months debating the hidden lore buried in the game's item descriptions, trying to piece together the protagonist's true origins.

    backstorymythoshistory
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    the small area between the eyes and the beak or nose of birds, snakes, and frogs.

    the space between the eye and the bill in birds, or the corresponding region in reptiles and amphibians.

    Simple

    The scientist pointed to the bird's lore to show the specific color pattern of that species.

    In context

    The presence of distinct scales on the lore is a key diagnostic feature used to differentiate these two species of pit viper.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated