Mere definition
(brit., dial.) A marsh.
noun
(old poet.) A lake or pond.
noun
Small; slight.
Could detect only the merest whisper.
adjective
(obsolete) Pure; unadulterated.
adjective
A small lake, pond, or marsh.
noun
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Nothing more or other than; only (as said to be)
A mere boy.
adjective
The sea.
noun
The definition of mere is nothing more than or a small, unimportant thing or amount.
An example of mere is using just a teaspoon of lemon for a gallon of cake batter.
adjective
Part; segment.
Blastomere.
suffix
(obs.) Unmixed; pure.
adjective
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An arm of the sea.
noun
(chiefly brit., now dial.) A boundary.
noun
Part.
Blastomere.
affix
Part; segment.
Blastomere.
suffix
A suffix meaning “part” or “segment,” as in blastomere, one of the cells that form a blastula.
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Being nothing more than what is specified.
A mere child; a mere 50 cents an hour.
adjective
Considered apart from anything else.
Shocked by the mere idea.
adjective
(obs.) Absolute; downright.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
mere
Plural:
meresAdjective
Base Form:
mere
Superlative:
merestOrigin of mere
- < Gr meros, a part: see merit
From Webster's New World College Dictionary, 5th Edition
- Middle English absolute, pure from Old French mier pure from Latin merus
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- French -mĕre from Greek meros part (s)mer-2 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English from Old English mori- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition