moor

Everyday

1. (noun, mostly UK) A wide, open area of high land with rough grass, heather and few trees. tree →
2. (verb) To tie up a boat or ship so it stays in one place, using ropes or an anchor. tree →
3. Moor (capital M): one of the Muslim people from North Africa who ruled much of Spain in the Middle Ages. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and stories (especially British ones like «The Hound of the Baskervilles» and «The Secret Garden») moors are wild, windy, lonely places. Safety: on moors the weather changes fast and fog comes down, so take a map and warm clothes. In sailing and harbours: «moor the boat», «mooring rope».

Examples

• We went walking across the moor. tree →
• Purple heather covers the moors in summer. tree →
• The fog came down over the moor and we got lost. tree →
• The sailors moored the boat at the harbour. tree →
• The yacht was moored to a buoy. tree →
• The Moors built beautiful palaces in Spain. tree →
• In the story, a strange howl came from the moor. tree →
• "In our nest on the moor. tree →

Note

Homophones (in many accents): «more» and «moor» can sound the same. Countable: a moor, moors. Related: «mooring» (the place or rope that holds a boat), «moorland» (land of moors). The moor meaning is mostly British; Americans say «heath» or «upland».