ore-deficient
|ore-de-fi-cient|
🇺🇸
/ɔr dɪˈfɪʃənt/
🇬🇧
/ɔː dɪˈfɪʃənt/
lacking ore
Etymology
'ore-deficient' is a modern English compound formed from the noun 'ore' and the adjective 'deficient' (from Latin roots).
'deficient' originates from Latin 'deficere' (to fail or be lacking) via Late Latin 'deficiens' and Old French into Middle English as 'deficient'; 'ore' comes from Old English 'ora' (ore, unworked metal), and the compound 'ore-deficient' is a recent coinage using these existing elements.
Initially, the constituent words described 'ore' (the material) and 'deficient' (lacking); the compound has the current specific meaning 'lacking in extractable ore' used in geological, economic, or industrial contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
lacking economically valuable mineral ores; having a low concentration or scarcity of extractable ore in a region, deposit, or material.
The country is largely ore-deficient and must import most of its raw materials for the metal industry.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/15 19:35