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pour
/pɔːr/
flow rapidly in a steady stream
She poured the tea into the cup.
She transferred the liquid from the teapot to the cup.
neutral
to flow or cause to flow in a steady stream, typically from a container
He poured the milk into the cereal bowl.
He transferred the milk from the carton to the bowl.
The rain poured down all afternoon.
The rain fell heavily in a continuous stream.
Commonly used with liquids, but can metaphorically describe heavy rain or other continuous flows.
neutral
to serve or distribute a drink
Would you like me to pour you a glass of wine?
Would you like me to serve you a glass of wine?
Often used in hospitality contexts.
Finance
Finance
to invest a large amount of money into something
The company poured millions into research and development.
The company invested a large sum of money into R&D.
Used metaphorically in financial contexts to describe heavy investment.
literary
to express or give vent to strong emotions
He poured his heart out to his therapist.
He expressed his deepest feelings to his therapist.
Often used with emotions like anger, love, or sadness.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Prepositions matter
The preposition after 'pour' significantly alters the meaning. 'Pour into' suggests investment or direction, while 'pour out' suggests expression or release.
Gold Rule
Physical vs. metaphorical
Distinguish between literal pouring (liquids) and metaphorical pouring (emotions, money). Context usually clarifies the meaning.
Common collocations
Memorize common collocations like 'pour into' (finance) and 'pour out' (emotions) to sound more natural.
Word Origin
Middle English: from Old French *pourer*, from Latin *populare* ‘people, make known’, but influenced by Old French *purer* ‘to purify’ (from Latin *purus* ‘pure’). The financial sense emerged in the 20th century.
Usage Notes
Common in everyday contexts for liquids, but also used metaphorically in finance and emotions. The preposition following 'pour' changes the meaning (e.g., 'pour into' vs. 'pour out').
Word Breakdown
pour
to flow or cause to flow
rootEnglish Dictionary