Pour vs. Pour

Take a look at the above two sentences. One of them is not correct. Can you identify which one?

Pore and pour are homophones which means that they both rhyme with each other but their meanings and spellings are very different from each other. Their similar sounds result in a great confusion where one of these words is mistaken for the other and this changes the whole meaning of the sentence. In this article we will tell you about the meanings of pore and pour, along with their usage and everyday examples.

Pore as noun:

Pore originated from Greek word poros which means an opening or a passageway. The word is used as a noun in English language where it means a minute opening in a surface, especially the skin or integument of an organism, through which gases, liquids, or microscopic particles may pass. It has synonyms like opening, orifice, aperture, hole, outlet, inlet and vent etc.

Stomata are the tiny pores on a plant body used for gaseous exchange.

Pore as verb:

Pore is also utilized in English language as a verb which originated from modern English word peer meaning to look through. It means to be absorbed in reading or studying (something). She spent hours poring over her favorite book. An old and archaic meaning of pore is to think intently or ponder.

Steve thought and pored on the topic at hand.

Pour as verb:

With its origin unknown, pour is only used as a verb in English language where it has multiple meanings. The most common meaning of pour known to all is to flow rapidly in a steady stream. Water poured off the roof. It can also be said as to cause (a liquid) to flow from a container in a steady stream. She poured a little whisky into a glass. To prepare and serve (a drink) is also called pour.

He poured a cup of coffee for himself.

Another sense in which pour is used is to contribute money to (an enterprise or project) in copious amounts. Belgium has been pouring money into the company. Pour also means to express one's feelings in an unrestrained way. Edward poured his hopes in his letter. A more humorous meaning of pour is when a woman put on a tight clothing.

I poured myself into a short Lycra skirt.

Pour is used for describing the rainfall too. When rain falls too heavily it pour down. the storm clouds gathered and the rain poured down. Another meaning of pour is to come or go in a steady stream and in large numbers.

People poured out of the train.

Examples:

Major employers are using specialist anti-union lawyers to pore over the legislation. (Libcom.org)

Young men pore over texts crammed with cursive script at the Zia ul Uloom madrassa in search of the values that define the Barelvi school of Islam. (Financial Times)

Yet I eagerly pore over them with the colossal seriousness that someone more educated than I might devote to a Kierkegaard treatise. (SI.com)

Pore or pour:

The small openings on your skin are pores and when you study with a lot of concentration you are poring over a subject or book. However when you transfer a drink say coffee from kettle to your cup, you are pouring the drink. The heavy falling of the rain is pouring too.

Did you pour over this article after you poured yourself a drink?