pork
n. · v.-
1 meat from a pig (n.) A2 Elementary Cookingthe meat from a pig that people eat.
the flesh of a pig used as food. Uncountable in its culinary sense.
ExampleWe are having roast pork with apples and potatoes for dinner tonight.
ExampleThe chef recommended slow-roasting the pork to ensure the meat remained tender while the skin became perfectly crisp.
- pig meat
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2 government spending (n.) C1 Advanced American English Informalmoney spent by a government on local projects to win votes.
government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district. Often used in the phrase 'pork barrel politics'.
ExampleThe new bridge was criticized as a piece of political pork.
ExampleCritics argued that the bill was loaded with unnecessary pork designed to secure the senator's reelection in the upcoming primary.
UsageUsually uncountable when referring to the spending itself.
- earmarks
- patronage
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3 to have sex (v.) C2 Proficiency Slang Vulgara very rude way to say having sex with someone.
to engage in sexual intercourse with someone. Transitive and highly informal.
ExampleHe made a crude joke about porking someone he met at the bar.
ExampleThe film relied heavily on low-brow humor, featuring several characters who spoke exclusively in vulgarities about porking their classmates.
Teacher's tipThis is a crude, male-centric term; learners should avoid using it as it is likely to cause offense in most social settings.
From Middle English pork, porc, via Anglo-Norman, from Old French porc (“swine, hog, pig; pork”), from Latin porcus (“domestic hog, pig”). Cognate with Old English fearh (“piglet”). Doublet of farrow. Compare also other West Germanic words for pigs: Ferkel, Ferke, and varken. Used in English since the 14th century, and as a term of abuse since the 17th century. US politics sense is related to pork barrel.
Blend of pin + fork.