seed corn
Americannoun
noun
-
the good quality ears or kernels of corn that are used as seed
-
assets or investments that are expected to provide profits in the future
Etymology
Origin of seed corn
First recorded in 1585–95
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.
In addition to the nod to America’s birthday, the festival marks the 100th anniversary of the first acre of commercial hybrid seed corn, grown and harvested in Altoona in 1923.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 4, 2023
So instead of investing further in their businesses, they choose to eat their "seed corn" by prioritizing short-term gains over long-term investments and by "investing" additional profits in their shareholders.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2023
He knows of just one exception to this policy in his lifetime: In 1996, his father gave seed corn back to the Mohegans, after the tribe won federal recognition.
From New York Times ● Nov. 22, 2021
Harvests for some specialty crops like seed corn and pumpkins are already underway.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 3, 2020
Luke made it over to Jen’s only once in all of February, and twice in March, when Dad began driving around looking for the best seed corn prices.
From "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
