English Reference
noun

ore

n.
US /ˈɔɹ/ UK /ˈɔː/ ore UK spelling ore's, ore's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    rock or earth that contains metal or other valuable minerals.

    a naturally occurring mineral or rock from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted for profit.

    Simple

    The miners spent all day digging for iron ore deep underground.

    In context

    The profitability of the mine depends entirely on the concentration of copper within the raw ore extracted from the primary vein.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency DialectArchaic

    a type of seaweed that washes up on the beach.

    seaweed, particularly that which has been washed ashore; primarily found in specific regional contexts.

    Simple

    After the storm, the beach was covered in thick piles of ore.

    In context

    Local farmers traditionally collected the ore from the shoreline to use as a natural fertiliser for their coastal fields.

As a 2023 study notes, there are only a few elements that can be found at a higher concentration in asteroids compared to ores on Earth, like the platinum group metals.

Ars Technica· 20 Aug 2026

Minnesota is one of the largest iron-producing states, accounting for 75% of the nation's ore and generating more than $4 billion in annual revenue.

Phys.org· 15 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated