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moor¹

(mr)

v. moored, moor·ing, moors

v.tr.

1. To make fast (a vessel, for example) by means of cables, anchors, or lines: moor a ship to a dock; a dirigible moored to a tower.

2. To fix in place; secure: a mailbox moored to the sidewalk with bolts. See Synonyms at fasten.

3. To provide with an abiding emotional attachment: a politician moored to the family back home.

v.intr.

1. To secure a vessel or aircraft with lines or anchors.

2. To be secured with lines or anchors: The freighter moored alongside the wharf.

[Middle English moren.]

moor²

(mr)

An uncultivated area covered with low-growing vegetation and often high but poorly drained.

[Middle English mor, from Old English mōr.]

Moor

(mr)

1. A member of a traditionally Muslim people of mixed Berber and Arab ancestry, now living chiefly in northwest Africa.

2. One of the Muslims who invaded Spain in the 8th century and established a civilization in Andalusia that lasted until the late 15th century.

[Middle English More, from Old French, from Medieval Latin Mōrus, from Latin Maurus, Mauritanian, from Greek Mauros.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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