dictionary help1. The native form of a metal, whether free and uncombined, as gold, copper, etc, or combined, as iron, lead, etc. Usually the ores contain the metals combined with oxygen, sulphur, arsenic, etc. (called mineralizers).
2. <chemical>
A native metal or its compound with the rock in which it occurs, after it has been picked over to throw out what is worthless.
3. Metal; as, the liquid ore. Ore hearth, a low furnace in which rich lead ore is reduced; also called Scotch hearth.
Origin: AS. Ra; cf. Ar brass, bronze, akin to OHG. R, G. Ehern brazen, Icel. Eir brass, Goth. Ais, L. Aes, Skr. Ayas iron. 210. Cf. Ora, Era.
ordinate, ordination, ordovian, ordovician < Prev | Next > oread, oreades, orectic, OREGANO
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