shore

The land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other area of water.

• We walked along the shore.
• Waves washed against the rocky shore.
• They could see both shores of the lake.

Similar words: waterfront, coast

Common phrases: on the shore, sandy shore, lake shore, rocky shore

Dry land, especially when compared with being on a ship at sea.

• The crew spent the night on shore.
• We returned to shore before dark.
• The sailors were given shore leave.

Similar words: land, dry land

Common phrases: on shore, shore leave, shore duty

A strong piece of wood or metal that holds up a building or another heavy structure.

• A timber shore supports the ceiling.
• Workers placed shores beneath the damaged floor.
• The engineer checked each shore before work began.

Similar words: prop, strut

Common phrases: timber shore, temporary shore, install a shore

To support something weak or damaged so that it does not fall or fail.

• They shored up the wall with beams.
• New funding will shore up the business.
• Her friends helped shore up her confidence.

How to use it: shore up something (They used wooden posts to shore up the roof.)

Similar words: support, reinforce, strengthen

Opposites: weaken

Common phrases: shore up something, shore something up, shore someone up