kore
C2 (Very low frequency)Highly specialized / academic (art history, archaeology)
Definition
Meaning
An ancient Greek statue of a draped young woman, used as an offering.
A term specifically referring to a type of Archaic Greek sculpture, typically contrasted with the male equivalent, a 'kouros'. In modern usage, it is exclusively an art history term.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a direct borrowing from Greek (korē). It is not used in contemporary English outside academic contexts. It is a countable noun (plural: korai or kores).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between BrE and AmE. The term is equally specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Solely academic; evokes classical art, archaeology, museums, and antiquity. No modern or figurative connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general language. Frequency is identical and limited to academic texts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The kore [VERB] (e.g., stands, dates from)A [ADJECTIVE] korea kore of [MATERIAL]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in art history, classical studies, archaeology papers and lectures. (e.g., 'The Peplos Kore is a well-preserved example.')
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would likely be misunderstood as 'core' or 'Korea'.
Technical
Used precisely to classify a type of Archaic Greek sculpture.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the museum, we saw an ancient Greek statue called a kore.
- A kore is different from a male statue, which is called a kouros.
- The beautifully draped Peplos Kore in the Acropolis Museum dates from around 530 BC.
- Archaeologists noted that the facial expression, the archaic smile, was typical of early korai.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CORE sample taken from a marble statue of a young woman in Greece: a 'kore'.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable for this highly specific, non-metaphorical term.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'Korea' (Корея).
- Do not confuse with 'core' (ядро, суть).
- It is not a common noun for 'girl' in modern English, only a specific art term.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'core' or 'Korea'.
- Using it as a general word for a statue or a girl.
- Incorrect plural (using 'kores' where 'korai' is the standard academic plural).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the word 'kore' exclusively used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not related. 'Kore' is from Ancient Greek meaning 'maiden'. The country name 'Korea' has a different etymological origin.
No. 'Kore' is a highly specific term for a type of Archaic Greek statue. Using it for other statues would be incorrect and confusing.
In British and most American English, it is pronounced like 'core' (/kɔːr/). In academic American English, you may also hear the two-syllable Greek pronunciation /ˈkɔːreɪ/.
The traditional plural from Greek is 'korai' (/ˈkɔːraɪ/). In English, the regular plural 'kores' is sometimes used, but 'korai' is more standard in academic writing.