corn1
- Also called Indian corn; especially technical and British, maize. a tall cereal plant, Zea mays, cultivated in many varieties, having a jointed, solid stem and bearing the grain, seeds, or kernels on large ears.
- the grain, seeds, or kernels of this plant, used for human food or for fodder.
- the ears of this plant.
- the edible seed of certain other cereal plants, especially wheat in England and oats in Scotland.
- the plants themselves.
- sweet corn.
- corn whiskey.
- Skiing. corn snow.
- Informal. old-fashioned, trite, or mawkishly sentimental material, as a joke, a story, or music.
- to preserve and season with salt in grains.
- to preserve and season with brine.
- to granulate, as gunpowder.
- to plant (land) with corn.
- to feed with corn.
Origin of corn1
corn2
- a horny induration or callosity of the epidermis, usually with a central core, formed especially on the toes or feet and caused by undue pressure or friction.
Origin of corn2
-corn
- a combining form meaning “having a horn,” of the kind specified by the initial element: longicorn.
Origin of -corn
Corn.
Related Words
banalitybromideplatitudeegggrainnutberrycornblisterabscessbumpbruisetumorsoreweltinflammationinjurycontusionnodulewheatExamples from the Web for corn
Contemporary Examples
I certainly found it very helpful when I realized we were going to have to grow our own corn.
Christopher Nolan Uncut: On ‘Interstellar,’ Ben Affleck’s Batman, and the Future of MankindMarlow Stern
November 10, 2014
That must have been some corn for her to remember it 50 years later!
He is perfectly capable of introducing a bill requiring all cars to run on corn stalks instead of gasoline.
He helped set up an institute in Mexico aimed at improving wheat and corn production.
No matter what was on that flag—a white buttercup, a corn muffin, the skeleton of an alligator, who knows?
Historical Examples
He'll be the corn king all right by June 1st; don't make any mistake on that.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
Fortunately the corn was not generally housed, and much of that was saved.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis MarionWilliam Dobein James
We don't grow anything like corn enough for ourselves in the Cantal,' he said.
The Roof of FranceMatilda Betham-Edwards
He had never forgiven the Shaman, you see, for that old story about the Corn Maiden.
The Trail BookMary Austin
Do not show yourselves ungrateful to the Corn by denying her servants their wages.
The Trail BookMary Austin
corn1
- British
- any of various cereal plants, esp the predominant crop of a region, such as wheat in England and oats in Scotland and Ireland
- the seeds of such plants, esp after harvesting
- a single seed of such plants; a grain
- Also called: Indian corn British equivalent: maize
- a tall annual grass, Zea mays, cultivated for its yellow edible grains, which develop on a spike
- the grain of this plant, used for food, fodder, and as a source of oilSee also sweet corn (def. 1), popcorn (def. 1)
- the plants producing these kinds of grain considered as a growing cropspring corn
- (in combination)a cornfield
- short for corn whisky
- slang an idea, song, etc, regarded as banal or sentimental
- archaic, or dialect any hard particle or grain
- to feed (animals) with corn, esp oats
- to preserve in brine
- to salt
- to plant corn on
Word Origin
corn2
- a hardening or thickening of the skin around a central point in the foot, caused by pressure or friction
- tread on someone's corns British informal to offend or hurt someone by touching on a sensitive subject or encroaching on his privileges
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for corn
n.1
"grain," Old English corn, from Proto-Germanic *kurnam "small seed" (cf. Old Frisian and Old Saxon korn "grain," Middle Dutch coren, German Korn, Old Norse korn, Gothic kaurn), from PIE root *gre-no- "grain" (cf. Old Church Slavonic zruno "grain," Latin granum "seed," Lithuanian žirnis "pea"). The sense of the Old English word was "grain with the seed still in" (e.g. barleycorn) rather than a particular plant.
Locally understood to denote the leading crop of a district. Restricted to the indigenous "maize" in America (c.1600, originally Indian corn, but the adjective was dropped), usually wheat in England, oats in Scotland and Ireland, while Korn means "rye" in parts of Germany. Maize was introduced to China by 1550, it thrived where rice did not grow well and was a significant factor in the 18th century population boom there. Cornflakes first recorded 1907. Corned beef so called for the "corns" or grains of salt with which it is preserved; from verb corn "to salt" (1560s).
n.2
"hardening of skin," early 15c., from Old French corne (13c.) "horn (of an animal)," later, "corn on the foot," from Latin cornu "horn" (see horn (n.)).
corn
(kôrn)- A small conical callosity caused by pressure over a bony prominence, usually on a toe.clavus heloma