Quranic root
صور
ṣ · w · r
The root has several historically distinct lexical families. Its clearest productive thread concerns inclining or bending, especially turning something toward another; another major branch concerns giving a thing a distinctive form or shape.
Maqayis explicitly cautions that many words under this root are not governed by one common derivational rule. The inclination branch extends to turning and bending, while the form branch yields forming, shaping, and the noun for a distinctive form; other nominal families remain independently lexical.
- Maqāyīs · row 2861
- 5
- Quran-attested forms
- 8
- Quran senses
- 19
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
صَارَ
ṣāra
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To turn or incline something toward oneself or another.
In 2:260, the imperative فَصُرْهُنَّ is commonly understood as “turn or incline them toward yourself.”
- Lane · entry 26844
- Mufradāt · row 857
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:260word 22
“and incline them”
To cut or divide something into pieces.
A reported alternative interpretation of فَصُرْهُنَّ in 2:260 understands the command as cutting or dividing the birds into pieces.
- Lane · entry 26844
- Mufradāt · row 857
To call or cry to them.
A less usual reported interpretation of the same Quranic command understands صُرْهُنَّ as “call or cry to them”; this is presented as an alternative reading or explanation, not the primary interpretation.
- Mufradāt · row 857
صَوَّرَ
ṣawwara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- Quran occurrences
- 4 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To form, fashion, shape, or give a distinctive form to something.
In the Quran this is used of divine formation and shaping, including formation in the womb and the giving of human beings their forms and distinguishing constitution.
- Lane · entry 26845
- Mufradāt · row 857
Selected Quran examples
صُورَة
ṣūrah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 3 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A form, shape, or distinctive constitution by which a created being is recognizable; this may include outward form and distinguishing qualities.
The Quranic uses concern the forms in which human beings are created or constituted, including formation in the womb and the form assigned to each person.
- Mufradāt · row 857
- Lane · entry 26856
Selected Quran examples
Quran 40:64word 11
“your forms”
Quran 82:8word 3
“form”
صُور
ṣūr
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 10 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A horn, especially the horn or trumpet blown at the resurrection.
The Quranic occurrences refer to the blowing of the horn in eschatological scenes.
- Lane · entry 26852
- Mufradāt · row 857
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:99word 9
“the trumpet”
Quran 20:102word 4
“the Trumpet”
In a reported alternative interpretation, the collective plural of صُورَة: the forms of the dead into which spirits are blown.
This is a reported minority interpretation of the Quranic expression; the horn or trumpet interpretation is the primary one in the evidence.
- Lane · entry 26852
- Mufradāt · row 857
مُصَوِّر
muṣawwir
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
One who forms or fashions; in the Quran, the divine Fashioner who gives existing things their distinctive forms and manner of being.
Used as a divine epithet in 59:24 and connected with the act of forming and distinguishing created things.
- Lane · entry 26866
Selected Quran examples
Quran 59:24word 5
“the Fashioner”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:260فَصُرْهُنَّand incline them
- 3:6يُصَوِّرُكُمْshapes you
- 6:73ٱلصُّورِ ۚthe trumpet
- 7:11صَوَّرْنَـٰكُمْWe fashioned you
- 18:99ٱلصُّورِthe trumpet
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 36 Classical meanings
صَارَهُ
To demolish, throw down, or pull something down.
A transitive Form I use, distinct from turning or inclining something.
- Lane · entry 26844
صَارَ الحُكْمَ
To decide or determine a judgment.
A figurative extension applied to a judge or judgment.
- Lane · entry 26844
صَارَ
To separate or disperse.
A reported lexical sense attributed to the Kitab al-Adhdad.
- Lane · entry 26844
صَارَ
To collect or gather.
A contrary reported lexical sense alongside “separate” or “disperse.”
- Lane · entry 26844
صَارَ
To utter a cry or sound.
An intransitive Form I use.
- Lane · entry 26844
صَوِرَ
To incline, bend, or become crooked.
Used of a person, a neck, or a thing that leans or bends.
- Lane · entry 26844
صَوَرٌ
An inclination or desire toward someone or something.
A figurative extension of physical inclination.
- Lane · entry 26844
تَصَوَّرَ
To be or become formed, fashioned, figured, shaped, sculptured, or pictured.
An intransitive or reflexive Form V counterpart to forming or shaping.
- Lane · entry 26847
تَصَوَّرَ
To imagine or conceive something as an image or form; in logical usage, to form a conception.
The object may be mentally represented as an image, picture, or intelligible form.
- Lane · entry 26847
تَصَوَّرَ
To incline and fall, or to fall or alight.
Used of someone struck or pierced and falling, and of a thing falling or alighting.
- Lane · entry 26847
اِنْصَارَ
To become demolished, fall apart, crack, or split.
Used intransitively of a thing or mountain that breaks down or divides.
- Lane · entry 26848
اصْطَارَهُ
To double, fold, or bend something.
A Form VIII usage synonymous with folding or bending.
- Lane · entry 26849
صَوْرٌ
A group or cluster of small palm trees.
The word is treated as having no ordinary singular of the same form; it may also refer to other trees in a group.
- Lane · entry 26851
صَوْرٌ
The root or base of a palm tree or palm trunk.
A botanical or material sense distinct from the palm cluster.
- Lane · entry 26851
صَوْرٌ
The bank or side of a river or rivulet.
A topographical noun.
- Lane · entry 26851
صَوْرٌ
The side of the neck.
An anatomical noun.
- Lane · entry 26851
صَوْرٌ
The forelock or frontal lock of hair.
Used of the hair at the front of the head, including a forelock described as inclining.
- Lane · entry 26851
صَوَرٌ / صَوْرَةٌ
An itching affection of the head.
The noun may refer to an itch or an affection producing the desire to be loused.
- Lane · entry 26853
- Lane · entry 26855
صَارَةٌ
The head or uppermost part of a mountain.
A geographical noun.
- Lane · entry 26854
صَوْرَةٌ
A palm tree.
A botanical noun distinct from the collective palm cluster.
- Lane · entry 26855
صُورَةٌ
An effigy, image, statue, picture, or other object formed in the likeness of a creature or thing.
This refers to a materially produced representation, distinct from the general notion of a form.
- Lane · entry 26856
- Lane · entry 26865
صُورَةٌ
A mental image, resemblance, or idea formed or conceived in the mind.
An abstract extension of the concrete image sense, frequent in philosophical usage.
- Lane · entry 26856
صُورَةٌ
A species, kind, or type.
A classificatory sense synonymous with نَوْع.
- Lane · entry 26856
صُورَةٌ
The essence, defining character, quality, property, or state by which a thing is what it is.
This abstract sense can denote a thing’s specific character or aggregate of attributes rather than its outward shape.
- Lane · entry 26856
صُورَةٌ
The mode or manner in which an action is performed.
A conventional abstract use referring to the manner or form of an action.
- Lane · entry 26856
صُورَةٌ
The face.
An anatomical usage attested in traditional reports.
- Lane · entry 26856
صِوَارٌ
A herd of wild cattle, whether bulls or cows.
The plural is صِيرَانٌ; related vocalizations are also reported.
- Lane · entry 26858
صِوَارٌ
A sweet or pleasant odor.
A sensory noun, distinct from the specific musk-container sense.
- Lane · entry 26858
صِوَارٌ
A musk vesicle or container, a small quantity or piece of musk, or musk itself.
Several closely related usages are reported, including the vessel containing musk and the substance in a small portion.
- Lane · entry 26858
الصِّوَارَانِ
The two corners of the mouth.
A dual anatomical expression.
- Lane · entry 26858
صَيِّرٌ
Goodly in form or appearance; handsome.
Used adjectivally of a person’s appearance or form.
- Lane · entry 26861
صَوَّارٌ
A sparrow that answers when called.
A rare zoological usage explicitly associated with responding to a call.
- Lane · entry 26862
أَصْوَرُ
Having an inclined, bent, or crooked neck; inclining the neck or face toward something.
An adjective describing bodily inclination or directed posture.
- Lane · entry 26864
أَصْوَرُ
Inclined or desirous toward a friend or object of love.
A figurative extension with إِلَى indicating the object of inclination or desire.
- Lane · entry 26864
مُصَوِّرٌ
A sculptor, painter, limner, or image-maker.
A human occupational sense, distinct from the divine Quranic epithet.
- Lane · entry 26866
صَوْرَةٌ
An inclination or desire toward someone or something.
A figurative noun use, including loving inclination toward a person or desire for an object.
- Lane · entry 26855
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Form I imperative in 2:260 has competing reported interpretations: turning toward, cutting into pieces, and calling or crying to the birds.
صُور in the eschatological passages is primarily understood as the horn or trumpet; an alternative interpretation connects it with the plural of صُورَة.
The root entry contains multiple lexical families, and not every classical word listed under صور is necessarily derived from one unified semantic principle.