corner

American  

[kawr-ner] / ˈkɔr nər /

noun

1. the place at which two converging lines or surfaces meet.

2. the space between two converging lines or surfaces near their intersection; angle.

   a chair in the corner of the room.

3. a projecting angle, especially of a rectangular figure or object.

   He bumped into the corner of the table.

4. the point where two streets meet.

   the corner of Market and Main Streets.

5. an end; margin; edge.

6. any narrow, secluded, or secret place.

7. an awkward or embarrassing position, especially one from which escape is impossible.

   Synonyms:

   dead end , impasse , predicament

8. Finance.  a monopolizing or a monopoly of the available supply of a stock or commodity to a point permitting control of price (applied only when monopoly price is exacted).

9. region; part; quarter.

   from every corner of the empire.

10. Surveying.

    1. the point of intersection of the section lines of a land survey, often marked by a monument or some object, as a pipe that is set or driven into the ground.

    2. a stake, tree, or rock marking the intersection of property lines.

11. a piece to protect the corner of anything.

12. Baseball.  Usually the corners first base or third base.

    Votto is out on strikes for the third out, and the Reds leave runners on the corners.

13. Baseball.

    1. any point on the line forming the left or right boundary of home plate.

       a pitch on the corner.

    2. the area formed by the intersection of the foul line and the outfield fence.

14. Boxing.

    1. the immediate area formed by any of the four angles in the ring.

    2. one of the two assigned corners where a boxer rests between rounds and behind which the handlers sit during a fight.

15. Soccer.  corner kick.

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adjective

1. situated on or at a corner where two streets meet.

   a corner drugstore.

2. made to fit or be used in a corner.

   a corner cabinet.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with corners.

2. to place in or drive into a corner.

3. to force into an awkward or difficult position or one from which escape is impossible.

   He finally cornered the thief.

4. to gain control of (a stock, commodity, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to meet in or be situated on or at a corner.

2. to form a corner in a stock or commodity.

3. (of an automobile) to turn, especially at a speed relatively high for the angle of the turn involved.

idioms

1. turn the corner,  to pass through a crisis safely.

   When the fever passed, we knew he had turned the corner.

2. cut corners,

   1. to use a shorter route.

   2. to reduce costs or care in execution.

      cutting corners to meet the foreign competition.

3. the four corners of the earth,  the most distant or remote regions.

   They traveled to the four corners of the earth.

4. rough corners,  rude, boorish, or unsophisticated characteristics, manners, or the like.

   Despite his rough corners, he was very likable.

corner ¹ British  

/ ˈkɔːnə /

noun

1. the place, position, or angle formed by the meeting of two converging lines or surfaces

2. a projecting angle of a solid object or figure

3. the place where two streets meet

4. any small, secluded, secret, or private place

5. a dangerous or awkward position, esp from which escape is difficult

   a tight corner

6. any part, region or place, esp a remote place

7. something used to protect or mark a corner, as of the hard cover of a book

8. commerce a monopoly over the supply of a commodity so that its market price can be controlled

9. soccer hockey a free kick or shot from the corner of the field, taken against a defending team when the ball goes out of play over their goal line after last touching one of their players

10. either of two opposite angles of a boxing ring in which the opponents take their rests

11. US name: dihedral.  mountaineering a junction between two rock faces forming an angle of between 60° and 120°

12. to do something in the easiest and shortest way, esp at the expense of high standards

13. close at hand

14. to pass the critical point (in an illness, etc)

15. (modifier) located on a corner

    a corner shop

16. (modifier) suitable or designed for a corner

    a corner table

17. logic either of a pair of symbols used in the same way as ordinary quotation marks to indicate quasi quotation See quasi-quotation

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verb

1. (tr) to manoeuvre (a person or animal) into a position from which escape is difficult or impossible

   finally they cornered the fox

2. (tr) to furnish or provide with corners

3. (tr) to place in or move into a corner

4. (tr)

   1. to acquire enough of (a commodity) to attain control of the market

   2. Also: engross.  to attain control of (a market) in such a manner Compare forestall

5. (intr) (of vehicles, etc) to turn a corner

6. (intr) to be situated on a corner

7. (intr) (in soccer, etc) to take a corner

Corner ² British  

noun

1. informal  an area in central Australia, at the junction of the borders of Queensland and South Australia

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corner More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing corner

• around the corner
• cut corners
• four corners of the earth
• in a tight corner
• out of the corner of one's eye
• paint oneself into a corner
• turn the corner

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Etymology

Origin of corner

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Old French cornier(e), “a corner,” from Vulgar Latin corna, Latin cornua, plural of cornū “(animal) horn” + -er noun suffix; horn; cornu -er )

Example Sentences

“We made the wrong decision,” said Norris, who had already been passed by Verstappen in the first corner of the race.

From The Wall Street Journal

Prices have almost doubled so far this year in what would be the best performance since 1979, when prices more than quintupled amid the historic attempt by the Hunt brothers to corner the silver market.

From Barron's

She needs no institution’s imprimatur, and there’s no corner of the industry promising anything she hasn’t already achieved.

From Los Angeles Times

But a fresh nightmare was around the corner, when, three days later, she had to face him in the family courts to try and stop him having parental access to their children.

From BBC

The AI boom has also pulled up South Korea, which dominates the corner of the AI supply chain that makes memory chips, and the Netherlands, home of chip-making equipment leader ASML.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• edge
• intersection
• rim