Awe, Or, Oar, and Ore
What are the differences between awe, or, oar, and ore?
- Awe means astonishment.
- Or is a conjunction used to offer an alternative.
- Oar is a tool used to propel a boat through water. Ore is a mineral from which metal can be extracted.
Awe, Or, Oar, and Ore
Awe, or, oar, and ore sound identical, but their meanings are very different; i.e., they are not homonyms.Awe
The noun awe means wonderment, astonishment, or dread. (The word awe can also be used as a verb.)Examples:
- The employee was stuck with awe when his boss fired him.
- He was filled with awe after seeing the breath-taking views of the Grand Canyon.
- The students were awed by their new professor.
(This is an example of awe being used as a verb.)
Or
The conjunction or is used to offer an alternative or a replacement.Examples:
- Would you like cake or ice cream?
- Complete your homework on time, or you'll fail the class.
Oar
The noun oar is a tool used to move a boat through water.Examples:
- Most Viking ships were powered by oars.
- Warships had several oarsmen per oar because they were so long.
Ore
The noun ore is used to describe a mineral from which metal can be extracted.Examples:
- In 2005, China was the top importer of ores and metals ahead of the USA and Japan.
- It is only worth extracting the ore if the metal is in a high enough concentration.
A Quick Test
Ways to Remember Awe and Oar
The word awe is the root of the word awesome.The word oar has the same vowels as the word boat.
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