boring

Etymology

From Middle English boryng (“making a hole”); equivalent to bore +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbɔː.ɹɪŋ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈboɹ.ɪŋ/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /ˈboː.ɹɪŋ/, /ˈboɹ.ɪŋ/
• (non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /ˈboə.ɹɪŋ/
• Rhymes: -ɔːɹɪŋ

Noun

boring (plural borings)

1. The act or process of boring holes; such practice as an area of expertise in manufacturing.

   Hypernym: machining

   Coordinate terms: drilling (usually coordinate in machining; often synonymous in woodworking), reaming; turning (OD counterpart); milling, broaching, shaping, planing, grinding

   turning and boring

   fine boring with a boring head on a boring mill

2. A pit or hole which has been bored.
   • 1992, J. Patrick Powers, Construction dewatering: new methods and applications, page 191:

     It is common in urban areas that a great many borings exist from prior construction work.

3. (usually in the plural) One of the fragments thrown up when something is bored or drilled.

   Synonym: chips (wood, metal, or plastic)

   Hyponyms: shavings (wood, plastic), swarf (metal)

   Coordinate term: sawdust (wood)

Verb

boring

1. present participle and gerund of bore

Adjective

boring (comparative more boring, superlative most boring)

1. Causing boredom or tiredness; making you to feel tired and impatient.

   What a boring film that was! I almost fell asleep.

   • 2023 February 8, Paul Stephen with Howard Smith, “Elizabeth Line: "It's not job done yet"”, in RAIL, number 976, page 35:

     "We've had some moments in the spotlight, and there will be more to come. But boring is good when operating railways.

2. (chiefly Manglish) Suffering from boredom; mildly annoyed and restless through having nothing to do.

   Synonym: bored

   I very boring. ― I am very bored.

3. Used, designed to be used, or able to drill holes.

   boring equipment

   boring snails

4. Capable of penetrating; piercing.
   • 1963, Arthur Upfield, The Lake Frome Monster, London: Pan Books, published 1969, page 11:

     [H]is remarkably blue eyes had the trick of boring concentration.

Anagrams

• orbing, robing

Etymology

From the verb bore (“drill”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈb̥oːɐ̯eŋ]

Noun

boring c (singular definite boringen, plural indefinite boringer)

1. drill hole
2. drilling

Etymology

From boren +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈboː.rɪŋ/

• Audio (Belgium):

  (file)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: bo‧ring
• Rhymes: -oːrɪŋ

Noun

boring f (plural boringen, diminutive borinkje n)

1. drilling

   offshoreboring — offshore drilling

2. bore of a car's cylinder or canon