full-bore en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree English full Proto-Indo-European *bʰerH-der. Proto-Germanic *burōną Proto-West Germanic *borōn Old English borian Middle English boren English bore English full-bore From full + bore (“the barrel of a gun”).
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) Having a relatively large caliber.
Mounted on the wall was a full-bore elephant gun.
-
(figuratively, not-comparable) Thoroughgoing; complete; total.
He is a full-bore environmental activist.
The problem had grown into a full-bore crisis.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| full bore | alternative | lexicographic |