First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1mire
noun \ˈmī(-ə)r\
: thick and deep mud
Full Definition of MIRE
1
: wet spongy earth (as of a bog or marsh)
2
: heavy often deep mud or slush
3
: a troublesome or intractable situation <found themselves in a mire of debt>
— miry \ˈmīr-ē\ adjective
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Origin of MIRE
Middle English, from Old Norse mȳrr; akin to Old English mōs marsh — more at moss
Other Geology Terms
2mire
verb
miredmir·ing
Definition of MIRE
transitive verb
1
a : to cause to stick fast in or as if in mire b : to hamper or hold back as if by mire : entangle
2
: to cover or soil with mire
intransitive verb
: to stick or sink in mire
First Known Use of MIRE
15th century
Related to MIRE
MIRING Defined for Kids
1mire
noun \ˈmīr\
Definition of MIRE for Kids
: heavy deep mud
2mire
verb
miredmir·ing
Definition of MIRE for Kids
: to stick or cause to become stuck in or as if in heavy deep mud <A wagon was mired in the swamp.>
Medical Dictionary
mire
noun \ˈmī(ə)r\
Medical Definition of MIRE
: any of the objects on the arm of an ophthalmometer that are used to measure astigmatism by the reflections they produce in the cornea when illuminated
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