poor quality definition | English definition dictionary | Reverso
poor
adj
1
a
lacking financial or other means of subsistence; needy
b
(as collective n; preceded by the)
the poor
2
characterized by or indicating poverty
the country had a poor economy
3
deficient in amount; scanty or inadequate
a poor salary
4
when postpositive, usually foll by: in
badly supplied (with resources, materials, etc.)
a region poor in wild flowers
5
lacking in quality; inferior
6
giving no pleasure; disappointing or disagreeable
a poor play
7
prenominal
deserving of pity; unlucky
poor John is ill again
8
♦
poor man’s (something)
a (cheaper) substitute for (something)
(C13: from Old French povre, from Latin pauper; see pauper, poverty)
♦
poorness
n
dirt-poor
adj
(Chiefly U.S)
extremely poor
land-poor
adj
owning much unprofitable land and lacking the money to maintain its fertility or improve it
poor box
n
a box, esp. one in a church, used for the collection of alms or money for the poor
poor law
n
(English history)
a law providing for the relief or support of the poor from public, esp. parish, funds
poor man’s orange
n
(N.Z.)
informal, obsolete
a grapefruit
poor mouth
n
1
(Irish)
unjustified complaining, esp. to excite sympathy
she always has the poor mouth
vb
♦
poor-mouth
tr
2
Informal
to speak of disparagingly; decry
poor rate
n
(English history)
a rate or tax levied by parishes for the relief or support of the poor
poor relation
n
a person or thing considered inferior to another or others
plastic is a poor relation of real leather
poor White
n
Often offensive
a
a poverty-stricken and underprivileged White person, esp. in the southern U.S. and South Africa
b
(as modifier)
poor White trash
