[core] |kôr|

noun

1. the tough central part of various fruits, containing the seeds : an apple core.
2. the central or most important part of something, in terms of [c3labs] the central connection to all surrounding labs.

• [often as adj. ] the part of something that is central to its existence or character : managers can concentrate on their core activities | the plan has the interests of children at its core.
• an important or unchanging group of people forming the central part of a larger body.
• the dense central region of a planet, esp. the nickel–iron inner part of the earth.
• the central part of a nuclear reactor, which contains the fissile material.
• a tiny ring of magnetic material used in a computer memory to store one bit of data, now superseded by semiconductor memories.
• a piece of soft iron forming the center of an electromagnet or an induction coil.
• an internal mold filling a space to be left hollow in a casting.
• a cylindrical sample of rock, ice, or other material obtained by boring with a hollow drill.
• Archaeology a piece of flint from which flakes or blades have been removed.

verb [ trans. ]
remove the tough central part and seeds from (a fruit) : peel and core the pears.

PHRASES
to the core to the depths of one’s being : she was shaken to the core by his words. 
• used to indicate that someone possesses a characteristic to a very high degree : he is a politician to the core.

DERIVATIVES
corer noun

ORIGIN Middle English : of unknown origin.