# moor

/ˈmʊɹ/ (US) · /mˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/moor
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to secure a boat

verb · CEFR B2

to tie a boat or ship to a fixed object or the shore so it does not float away.

For teachers: to secure a vessel in a particular place by means of cables, anchors, or lines. Often used transitively with the vessel as the object.

- We decided to moor the boat near the small wooden pier for the night.
- The captain instructed the crew to moor the ship securely before the storm reached the harbour, fearing the rising tide would snap the older ropes.

Usage: Commonly used with the preposition 'to'.

### 2. open wild land

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a large area of open land that is not used for farming and is often covered with grass and purple flowers.

For teachers: an area of open, uncultivated upland, typically characterized by acidic soil, heath, and peat bogs.

- They spent the afternoon walking across the windy moor, looking for wild birds.
- The vast, desolate moor stretched toward the horizon, its rugged beauty punctuated only by occasional outcrops of granite and patches of purple heather.

### 3. historical ethnic group

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

a member of the Muslim people from North Africa who ruled parts of Spain in the past.

For teachers: a member of the northwestern African Muslim people of mixed Berber and Arab descent who conquered the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century.

- The guide explained how the Moors influenced the architecture of southern Spain.
- Historical accounts detail the sophisticated irrigation systems and architectural innovations introduced to the region by the Moors during their centuries of rule.

Teaching tip: In modern contexts, this term is primarily used in historical discussions or literature; it is not a standard way to refer to modern North Africans.

## Examples

- We need to moor the boat before the storm starts.
- The captain decided to moor the yacht in the quiet bay overnight to avoid the rough sea.
- After navigating the narrow channel, the crew worked quickly to moor the vessel to the heavy iron rings embedded in the stone quay.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.