lore

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈlȯr 

1

: a particular body of knowledge or tradition

the lore of baseball heroes

2

: something that is learned:

a

: traditional knowledge or belief

tribal lore

b

: knowledge gained through study or experience

the lore of religious architecture

3

archaic : something that is taught : lesson

lore

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the space between the eye and bill in a bird or the corresponding region in a reptile or fish

—usually used in plural

dark lores

loreal

ˈlȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• knowledge
• science
• wisdom

Examples of lore in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the home gardener had acquired her herbal lore from many years of trial and error

set out to study the rich lore of the Cajun people of Louisiana before it all vanished

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Now, the slasher subgenre is an instantly recognizable part of film lore. —Sydney Bishop, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024

In a city full of crime history lore, smaller stories can sometimes get lost among the bigger ones, and this typically happens at the expense of the victims and families affected by the crime. —Jennifer Stavros, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024

The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973) Christopher Lee's penultimate turn as Dracula anchors this creatively wild combination of vampire lore, satanic horror, and political thriller. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024

The horror genre appeals to Latino audiences because the community is historically marginalized and includes popular lore like La Llorona and the boogeyman, El Cucuy, Morales mentioned. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English lār; akin to Old High German lēra doctrine, Old English leornian to learn

Noun (2)

New Latin lorum, from Latin, thong, rein; akin to Greek eulēra reins

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (2)

1828, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lore

noun

ˈlō(ə)r,

ˈlȯ(ə)r

: knowledge sense 1

especially : a particular body of knowledge or tradition

forest lore