poor

/puə/

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Explanation of the Word "Poor"

Part of Speech: Adjective (also used as a noun)

Usage Instructions:

1. As an Adjective: You can use "poor" to describe people, places, or things that lack enough money, resources, or quality.

   • Example: "They live in a poor neighborhood."

2. As a Noun: It can also refer to a group of people who do not have money or possessions.

   • Example: "The city has programs to help the poor."

Advanced Usage:

• Describing Quality: "Poor" can indicate something that is not good enough or lacking in quality.

  • Example: "The food was poor in taste."

• Emotional Context: It can also describe situations or conditions that evoke pity or sadness.

  • Example: "The poor child lost everything in the flood."

Word Variants:

• Noun Form: "Poverty" - the state of being poor.

  • Example: "Poverty is a serious issue in many countries."

• Adverb Form: "Poorly" - in a way that is not good or satisfactory.

  • Example: "He performed poorly on the test."

Different Meanings:

1. Financial Context: Referring to having little money or resources.

   • "They are struggling because of their poor income."

2. Quality Context: Indicating low quality or unsatisfactory conditions.

   • "The project was a poor example of teamwork."

3. Emotional Context: Expressing compassion or pity.

   • "Oh, you poor thing! I’m so sorry!"

Synonyms:

• For Financial Context: Needy, indigent, impoverished, destitute
• For Quality Context: Inferior, bad, substandard, inadequate
• For Emotional Context: Pathetic, pitiable, wretched

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Poor as a church mouse": This idiom means to be very poor, with no money at all.

  • Example: "After losing his job, he was as poor as a church mouse."

• "The poor": Refers to people who are poor as a group.

  • Example: "The government needs to focus on the needs of the poor."

Summary:

The word "poor" can describe a lack of money or resources, low quality, or evoke sympathy. It has different forms and meanings, and is used in various contexts, making it a versatile word in the English language.

Academic

Adjective

1. unsatisfactory
   • a poor light for reading
   • poor morale
   • expectations were poor
2. not sufficient to meet a need
   • an inadequate income
   • a poor salary
   • money is short
   • on short rations
   • food is in short supply
   • short on experience
3. lacking in specific resources, qualities or substances
   • a poor land
   • the area was poor in timber and coal
   • food poor in nutritive value
4. characterized by or indicating poverty
   • the country had a poor economy
   • they lived in the poor section of town
5. having little money or few possessions
   • deplored the gap between rich and poor countries
   • the proverbial poor artist living in a garret
6. deserving or inciting pity
   • a hapless victim
   • miserable victims of war
   • the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic- Galsworthy
   • piteous appeals for help
   • pitiable homeless children
   • a pitiful fate
   • Oh, you poor thing
   • his poor distorted limbs
   • a wretched life

Noun

1. people without possessions or wealth (considered as a group)
   • the urban poor need assistance

Synonyms

• inadequate
• short
• hapless
• miserable
• misfortunate
• pathetic
• piteous
• pitiable
• pitiful
• wretched
• poor people