Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense moors, present participle mooring, past tense, past participle moored
1. variable noun
A moor is an area of open and usually high land with poor soil that is covered mainly with grass and heather.
[mainly British]
Colliford is higher, right up on the moors.
Exmoor National Park stretches over 265 square miles of moor.
Synonyms: moorland, fell [British], heath, muir [Scottish] More Synonyms of moor
2. verb
If you moor a boat somewhere, you stop and tie it to the land with a rope or chain so that it cannot move away.
She had moored her barge on the right bank of the river. [VERB noun]
I decided to moor near some tourist boats. [VERB]
Synonyms: tie up, fix, secure, anchor More Synonyms of moor
3. countable noun [usually plural]
The Moors were a Muslim people who established a civilization in North Africa and Spain betweenthe 8th and the 15th century A.D.
4. See also mooring
moor in British English1
(mʊə, mɔː)
noun
a tract of unenclosed ground, usually having peaty soil covered with heather, coarse grass, bracken, and moss
Derived forms
moory (ˈmoory)
adjective
Word origin
Old English mōr; related to Old Saxon mōr, Old High German muor swamp
moor in British English2
(mʊə, mɔː)
verb
1.
to secure (a ship, boat, etc) with cables or ropes
2.
(of a ship, boat, etc) to be secured in this way
3. (not in technical usage) a less common word for anchor (sense 11)
Word origin
C15: of Germanic origin; related to Old English mǣrelsrāp rope for mooring
Moor in British English
(mʊə, mɔː)
noun
a member of a Muslim people of North Africa, of mixed Arab and Berber descent. In the 8th century they were converted to Islam and established power in North Africa and Spain, where they established a civilization (756–1492)
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin Maurus, from Greek Mauros, possibly from Berber
Moor in American English
(mʊr)
noun
1.
a member of a Muslim people of mixed Arab and Berber descent living in NW Africa
2.
a member of a group from this people that invaded and occupied Spain in the 8th cent. a.d.
Derived forms
Moorish (ˈMoorish)
adjective
Word origin
ME More < OFr More, Maure < L Maurus, a Moor, Mauritanian < Gr Mauros
moor in American English1
(mʊr)
noun British
1.
a tract of open, rolling wasteland, usually covered with heather and often marshy or peaty; heath
2.
a tract of land with game preserves
Word origin
ME more < OE mor, wasteland, akin to LowG mor < IE base *mori-, sea > marsh, mere2, L mare, sea: basic sense “swampy coastland”
moor in American English2
(mʊr)
verb transitive
1.
to hold (a ship, etc.) in place by cables or chains attached as to a pier or special buoy (mooring buoy), or by two anchors
2.
to cause to be held in place; secure
verb intransitive
3.
to moor a ship, etc.
4.
to be secured as by cables
Word origin
Early ModE < or akin to MDu maren, LowG moren, to tie
Examples of 'moor' in a sentence
moor
They are familiar and welcome companions for moor and mountain walkers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This unreliable cycle makes grouse moors unsuitable as investments.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
By then many of them will be back on the heather moors where they nest.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Be inspired by the colourful dazzle ship moored at the museum.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
After you cross the cattle grid you are on to the open moor.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
He is a keen sailor and has his boat moored just outside his house.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Evidence points to illegal persecution on grouse moors as the main obstacle to its recovery.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Direct access to the lake means that you can moor your yacht at the bottom of the garden.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It boasts a helicopter hangar and is usually moored in Monaco.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They used the proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle that included a luxury yacht moored in Monaco.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It should be so light that it needs mooring ropes rather than a handbrake, to stop it floating away.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is moored in the harbour and features good-value food and live jazz on Sundays.
The Sun (2006)
He's the strongest chap on th' moor.
Frances Hodgson Burnett The Secret Garden (1911)
He also has a 12m yacht moored in Monaco harbour.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You can go to France in your own boat moored right outside your front door or by ferry from Portsmouth.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Then, the artist and a colleague were lifted 30ft into the air as they held on to mooring ropes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I was born and bred in and around the North Yorkshire moors until recently where this saying is still in daily use.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
moor
British English: moor /mʊə; mɔː/ NOUN
A moor is an area of high open ground covered mainly with rough grass and heather.
It's very windy up on the moors.
American English: moor
Arabic: سَبْخَةُ
Brazilian Portuguese: charneca
Chinese: 沼地
Croatian: pustopoljina
Czech: slatina
Danish: lynghede
Dutch: heidegrond
European Spanish: páramo
Finnish: nummi
French: lande
German: Moor
Greek: χερσότοπος
Italian: brughiera
Japanese: 荒野
Korean: 황야
Norwegian: (lyng)hei
Polish: wrzosowisko
European Portuguese: charneca
Romanian: mlaștină
Russian: пустошь
Latin American Spanish: páramo
Swedish: hed
Thai: ทุ่งโล่ง
Turkish: bozkır
Ukrainian: місцевість, що поросла вересом
Vietnamese: đồng hoang
British English: moor /mʊə; mɔː/ VERB
If you moor or moor a boat, you attach it to the land with a rope or cable so that it cannot drift away.
I decided to moor near some tourist boats.
American English: moor
Arabic: يَرْبِطُ
Brazilian Portuguese: atracar
Chinese: 停泊
Croatian: sidriti
Czech: uvázat loď ke břehu
Danish: fortøje
Dutch: aanmeren
European Spanish: amarrar embarcación
Finnish: kiinnittää laituriin
French: amarrer
German: vertäuen
Greek: προσδένω
Italian: ormeggiare
Japanese: 停泊させる
Korean: 매어두다
Norwegian: fortøye
Polish: przycumować
European Portuguese: atracar
Romanian: a ancora
Russian: швартовать
Latin American Spanish: amarrar
Swedish: förtöja
Thai: จอดเรือ
Turkish: bağlamak tekne
Ukrainian: причалити
Vietnamese: bỏ neo
Chinese translation of 'moor'
moor
(muəʳ)
n(c)
(esp Brit, = heath) 荒泽(澤) (huāngzé)
vt
[boat, ship]系(繫)泊 (jìbó)
vi
停泊 (tíngbó)
(noun)
Definition
an expanse of open uncultivated ground covered with heather, coarse grass, and bracken
The small town is high up on the moors.
Synonyms
moorland
fell (British)
heath
The park contains natural heath, woods and wetland.
muir (Scottish)
(verb)
Definition
to secure a ship or boat with cables, ropes, or anchors so that it remains in one place
She had moored her boat on the right bank of the river.
Synonyms
tie up
fix
Fix the photo to the card using double-sided tape
secure
He secured the boat and then came to join us.
anchor
The ship was anchored by the pier.
dock
The vessel is about to dock in Singapore.
lash
Secure the anchor by lashing it to the rail.
berth
The ship berthed in New York.
fasten
Use screws to fasten the shelf to the wall.
make fast
Additional synonyms
in the sense of anchor
Definition
to use an anchor to hold (a boat) in one place
The ship was anchored by the pier.
Synonyms
moor,
harbour,
dock,
tie up,
kedge,
kedge off
in the sense of berth
Definition
to dock (a ship)
The ship berthed in New York.
Synonyms
anchor,
land,
dock,
moor,
tie up,
drop anchor
in the sense of dock
Definition
to moor or be moored at a dock
The vessel is about to dock in Singapore.
Synonyms
moor,
land,
anchor,
put in,
tie up,
berth,
drop anchor
Synonyms of 'moor'
moor
Explore 'moor' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fasten
Definition
to make or become secure or joined
Use screws to fasten the shelf to the wall.
Synonyms
fix,
join,
link,
connect,
grip,
attach,
anchor,
affix,
make firm,
make fast
in the sense of fix
Definition
to attach or place permanently
Fix the photo to the card using double-sided tape
Synonyms
place,
join,
stick (informal),
attach,
set,
position,
couple,
plant,
link,
establish,
tie,
settle,
secure,
bind,
root,
connect,
locate,
pin,
install,
anchor,
glue,
cement,
implant,
embed,
fasten,
make fast
in the sense of heath
Definition
a large open area, usually with sandy soil, low shrubs, and heather
The park contains natural heath, woods and wetland.