/t͡ʃɔː/, /t͡ʃoɹ/, /t͡ʃo(ː)ɹ/
OriginFrom 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.
- A task, especially a regularly needed task for the upkeep of a home or similar, such as cleaning or preparing meals.
“Before we moved in together, my partner and I divided up the chores: he cooks and vacuums, and I do the dishes and laundry.”
“The children were made to do their daily chores before being allowed to play games.”
- A task that is difficult, unpleasant, or tediously routine.
“I used to enjoy being self-employed, but it's become a bit of a chore recently.”
“Shorty after his nomination as Chief Justice was announced, it came to light that while on the Court, Fortas, a close friend of Johnson's, had performed a number of personal and political chores for h”
- obsoleteA choir or chorus.
“On every wall, and sung where e'er I walk. I number these, as being of the chore”
- US, datedTo do chores.
- Scotland, dialectalTo steal.
“"Graham Reid's the thief. I saw him chore the sweeties. Bit naebody's gaun tae believe a spikkin boolie. ..."”
Formschores(plural) · chores(present, singular, third-person) · choring(participle, present) · chored(participle, past) · chored(past) · chor(alternative, Geordie)