popcorn

[pop-kawrn]

noun

any of several varieties of corn whose kernels burst open and puff out when subjected to dry heat.
popped corn.
peanut(def 4c).

Origin of popcorn

1810–20, Americanism; short for popped corn. See pop¹, -ed², corn¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for popcorn

Contemporary Examples

When his success was finally projected for the crowd—a 58 to 40 win—the crowd roared, popcorn spilling onto the floor.
Mitch’s Brotastic Victory Bash
Olivia Nuzzi
November 5, 2014
But no, they picked a medication that would make every doctor, nurse, and pharmacist in the audience choke on their popcorn.
Scandal’s Finale Featured One of the Most Preposterous TV Deaths Ever
Russell Saunders
April 19, 2014
Words had been exchanged and the texter, Chad Oulson, had stood up and may have thrown a bag of popcorn.
The Movie Murder 911 Tape: Victim’s Last Breaths, With Shooter Nearby
Michael Daly
January 25, 2014
Popcorn, or a disgusting French sour jellybean-like thing called Bubbliz.
How I Write: Diane Johnson
Noah Charney
January 15, 2014
Escobar reported that 43-year-old Chad Oulson had thrown “an unknown object,” maybe a bag of popcorn, at Reeves.
Ex-Cop’s Shooting of Texting Moviegoer Ends in Tragedy
Michael Daly
January 15, 2014

Historical Examples

Then something sound like popcorn beginning to pop real slow.
Slave Narratives, Oklahoma
Various
Ellen stood facing the men, with the white festoons of popcorn in her hands.
Christmas
Zona Gale
Popcorn and apples—Armenian laces, even—beg a quicker audience.
Wappin' Wharf
Charles S. Brooks
We followed with our popcorn, but Antonia hung back—said she had to get her cake into the oven.
My Antonia
Willa Cather
We never got anything as nice as popcorn and peanuts in the jungle, did we?
Tum Tum, the Jolly Elephant
Richard Barnum

British Dictionary definitions for popcorn

popcorn

noun

a variety of maize having hard pointed kernels that puff up when heated
the puffed edible kernels of this plant

Word Origin

C19: so called because of the noise the grains make when they swell up and burst on heating

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for popcorn

n.

1819, from pop (v.) + corn (n.1).

popcorn

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}popcorn

Examples from the Web for popcorn

Contemporary Examples

When his success was finally projected for the crowd—a 58 to 40 win—the crowd roared, popcorn spilling onto the floor.

But no, they picked a medication that would make every doctor, nurse, and pharmacist in the audience choke on their popcorn.

Words had been exchanged and the texter, Chad Oulson, had stood up and may have thrown a bag of popcorn.

Popcorn, or a disgusting French sour jellybean-like thing called Bubbliz.

Escobar reported that 43-year-old Chad Oulson had thrown “an unknown object,” maybe a bag of popcorn, at Reeves.

Historical Examples

Then something sound like popcorn beginning to pop real slow.

Ellen stood facing the men, with the white festoons of popcorn in her hands.

Popcorn and apples—Armenian laces, even—beg a quicker audience.

We followed with our popcorn, but Antonia hung back—said she had to get her cake into the oven.

We never got anything as nice as popcorn and peanuts in the jungle, did we?

popcorn

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for popcorn

n.

Origin of popcorn