cornucopia
Americannoun
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Classical Mythology. a horn containing food, drink, etc., in endless supply, said to have been a horn of the goat Amalthaea.
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a representation of this horn, used as a symbol of abundance.
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an abundant, overflowing supply.
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a horn-shaped or conical receptacle or ornament.
noun
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Greek myth the horn of Amalthea, the goat that suckled Zeus
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a representation of such a horn in painting, sculpture, etc, overflowing with fruit, vegetables, etc; horn of plenty
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a great abundance; overflowing supply
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a horn-shaped container
Usage
What is a cornucopia? Cornucopia refers to an abundance or an overflowing supply, as in Santa Claus’ workshop has a cornucopia of toys, everything from alphabet blocks to stuffed zebras. A cornucopia is a horned-shaped container filled with food or a decoration resembling this. You might commonly see images of a straw cornucopia with fruits and vegetables in it around Thanksgiving.The original cornucopia comes from Greek mythology. It was an empty goat horn that spilled out an endless supply of food and drink.The adjective cornucopian describes something related to a cornucopia, usually a large amount of something, as in The warehouse was stocked with a cornucopian amount of food and drinks. Example: We were amazed by the cornucopia of foods and desserts available at the bustling marketplace.
Other Word Forms
- cornucopian adjective
- cornucopiate adjective
Etymology
Origin of cornucopia
First recorded in 1585–95; from Late Latin cornū cōpiae “horn of plenty,” from Latin cornū “horn” + cōpiae (genitive singular of cōpia “abundance”); horn, cornu, copious
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Critics say it has outlived its usefulness, as today’s media landscape offers a cornucopia of platforms unknown in 1920s America.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026
If we allow it, we can be taught all sorts of things by all manner of life’s cornucopia of beauty and strangeness.
From Salon • Jan. 9, 2025
It depicts a woman often referred to as the Spirit of California and the bounty she offers up: a cornucopia of working men and their promise of progress.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2024
Once the Summit Express gets the green light, a cornucopia of black and double black diamond runs comes into play.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 10, 2024
From her waist cord hung her cornucopia - the magic horn of plenty.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
