corn

¹

[kawrn]

noun

1. especially technical and British, maize. Also called Indian corn. 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.

2. the grain, seeds, or kernels of this plant, used for human food or for fodder.

3. the ears of this plant.

4. the edible seed of certain other cereal plants, especially wheat in England and oats in Scotland.

5. the plants themselves.

6. sweet corn.

7. corn whiskey.

8. Skiing.,  corn snow.

9. Informal.,  old-fashioned, trite, or mawkishly sentimental material, as a joke, a story, or music.

verb (used with object)

1. to preserve and season with salt in grains.

2. to preserve and season with brine.

3. to granulate, as gunpowder.

4. to plant (land) with corn.

5. to feed with corn.

corn

²

[kawrn]

noun

Pathology.

1. 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.

-corn

³

1. a combining form meaning “having a horn,” of the kind specified by the initial element.

   longicorn.

Corn.

⁴

abbreviation

1. Cornish.

2. Cornwall.

corn

¹

/ kɔːn /

noun

1. 1. any of various cereal plants, esp the predominant crop of a region, such as wheat in England and oats in Scotland and Ireland

   2. the seeds of such plants, esp after harvesting

   3. a single seed of such plants; a grain

2. British equivalent: maize. Also called: Indian corn. 

   1. a tall annual grass, Zea mays, cultivated for its yellow edible grains, which develop on a spike

   2. the grain of this plant, used for food, fodder, and as a source of oil See also sweet corn popcorn

3. 1. the plants producing these kinds of grain considered as a growing crop

      spring corn

   2. ( in combination )

      a cornfield

4. short for corn whisky

5. slang,  an idea, song, etc, regarded as banal or sentimental

6. archaic,  any hard particle or grain

verb

1. to feed (animals) with corn, esp oats

2. 1. to preserve in brine

   2. to salt

3. to plant corn on

corn

²

/ kɔːn /

noun

1. a hardening or thickening of the skin around a central point in the foot, caused by pressure or friction

2. informal,  to offend or hurt someone by touching on a sensitive subject or encroaching on his privileges

Word History and Origins

Origin of corn¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch koren, Old Norse korn, German Korn, Gothic kaúrn; akin to Russian zernó, Latin grānum grain

Origin of corn²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English corn(e), from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin cornū horn (hence a horny hardening of the cuticle); cornu

Origin of corn³

Representing Latin -cornis horned

Word History and Origins

Origin of corn¹

Old English corn; related to Old Norse, Old High German corn, Gothic kaúrn, Latin grānum, Sanskrit jīrná fragile

Origin of corn²

C15: from Old French corne horn, from Latin cornū

Example Sentences

Jonathan Pryce plays Elizabeth’s husband, Stephen, no longer in the early stages of dementia, and his scenes with Elizabeth and Bogdnan, who becomes a chess partner, are handled beautifully, with an absence of corn.

From Los Angeles Times

On the drive out that afternoon, between fields of corn and sunflowers, miles of newly uncoiled barbed wire glint in the sunlight.

From BBC

“It’s All Good” recommends cutting coffee, sugar, wheat, eggs, meat, shellfish, potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant and corn.

From Salon

There’s evidence that buckwheat and bush sunflower can take up lead, and saltbush can ensnare arsenic, Fang said, also name-checking corn, squash and cucumber for their ability to sequester contaminants such as dioxins.

From Los Angeles Times

Toss in some fresh broccoli, carrots and baby corn along with TJ’s Grilled Chicken Strips.

From Salon

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