poor 
/ˈpuɚ/ adjective
poor·er; poor·est /ˈpuɚ/ adjective [also more poor; most poor] 1 : having little money or few possessions : not having enough money for the basic things that people need to live properly
▪ We were too poor to buy new clothes. ▪ The organization helps poor families/people. ▪ a poor country/neighborhood — opposite rich 2 : having a very small amount of something
▪ a poor crop ▪ She has a poor vocabulary. — often + in ▪ Junk food is poor in vitamins and nutrients. — opposite rich 3 : not good in quality or condition : bad
▪ a poor effort ▪ It was a poor attempt at a joke. ▪ a poor performance ▪ He is in poor condition/health. ▪ She couldn't read the sign because her vision was too poor. ▪ The joke was in poor taste. [=the joke was offensive or not polite] ▪ He has a poor opinion of her. [=he does not think she is good; he does not like her] 4 : not skilled at something : not able to do something well
▪ He was such a poor plumber that he couldn't fix a simple leak. ▪ a poor golfer ▪ She is a poor judge of character. ▪ I am poor [=(more commonly) bad] at math. 5 always used before a noun — used to refer to someone or something in a way that shows sympathy ▪ The poor kitten hurt its paw. ▪ Leave the poor guy alone. ▪ You're all by yourself, you poor thing. ▪ Poor John has been sick for days.
▪ We were too poor to buy new clothes. ▪ The organization helps poor families/people. ▪ a poor country/neighborhood — opposite rich
▪ a poor crop ▪ She has a poor vocabulary. — often + in ▪ Junk food is poor in vitamins and nutrients. — opposite rich
▪ a poor effort ▪ It was a poor attempt at a joke. ▪ a poor performance ▪ He is in poor condition/health. ▪ She couldn't read the sign because her vision was too poor. ▪ The joke was in poor taste. [=the joke was offensive or not polite] ▪ He has a poor opinion of her. [=he does not think she is good; he does not like her]
▪ He was such a poor plumber that he couldn't fix a simple leak. ▪ a poor golfer ▪ She is a poor judge of character. ▪ I am poor [=(more commonly) bad] at math.
a poor second/third (etc.)
— used to say that someone finished a race or contest a long way behind the winner ▪ He came in a poor second in the race. [=he finished second but was far behind the winner] ▪ She was a poor second in the tournament.
make a poor fist of — see fist
poor man's 1 — used to refer to someone (such as a performer) who is like another person in some ways but not as talented or successful ▪ a young actor who is said to be the poor man's James Dean 2 — used to refer to something that is like something else but not as expensive ▪ Pewter is the poor man's silver.
the poor
: poor people
▪ He gave money to the poor.
▪ He gave money to the poor.
