Core Names the Centre of an Apple and of the Earth
A core is the central part of something. The word covers fruit, planets, reactors and computer chips.
A core is the central or most important part of something. Its origin is disputed, with Latin *cor*, a heart, the most commonly suggested source — a heart and a core are the same idea. The word now spans an apple, a planet, a nuclear reactor and a processor, all meaning the part at the centre that everything else depends on. The Earth's core is roughly the size of Mars and is what generates the magnetic field shielding the surface.
- The centre. *The core of an apple.*
- The essential part. *The core of the argument.*
- A planet's centre. *The Earth's core.*
- A processor unit. *A four-core chip.*
- Latin — *cor*, a heart. *A likely root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | core | A core. |
| Plural | cores | Cores. |
| Verb | core | Cored. |
| Adjective | core | Core values. |
| Latin | cor | A heart. |
- She cored the apples.Fruit.
- That is the core of the problem.Essence.
- The Earth's core is iron.Geology.
About the Earth's core
- It is mostly iron and nickel
- The outer core is liquid, the inner core solid despite being hotter
- Immense pressure keeps the inner core solid
- Its motion generates the planet's magnetic field
- That field deflects the solar wind from the surface
Middle English *core*, of uncertain origin, possibly from Latin *cor*, a heart, or Old French *cor*.
Where does core come from?
The origin is uncertain. Latin cor, a heart, is the most commonly suggested source, and the sense matches closely.
Why is the Earth's inner core solid?
Pressure. It is hotter than the liquid outer core but under such enormous pressure that it remains solid.