corn

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈkȯrn 

often attributive

1

chiefly dialectal : a small hard particle : grain

2

: a small hard seed

—usually used in combination

peppercorn

barleycorn

3

British : the grain of a cereal grass that is the primary crop of a region (such as wheat in Britain and oats in Scotland and Ireland)

also : a plant that produces corn

4

a

: a tall annual cereal grass (Zea mays) originally domesticated in Mexico and widely grown for its large elongated ears of starchy seeds

called also Indian corn, maize

b

: the typically yellow or whitish seeds of corn used especially as food for humans and livestock

c

: an ear of corn with or without its leafy outer covering

5

: corn whiskey

6

a

: something (such as writing, music, or acting) that is corny

b

: the quality or state of being corny : corniness

7

: corn snow

corn

2 of 3

verb

corned; corning; corns

transitive verb

1

: to form into grains : granulate

2

a

: to preserve or season with salt in grains

b

: to cure or preserve in brine containing preservatives and often seasonings

corned beef

3

: to feed with corn

corn

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a local hardening and thickening of epidermis (as on a toe)

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• goo
• mush
• schmaltz
• schmalz
• sludge
• slush
• soap opera
• sorghum

Examples of corn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some of what else was found include: Cans of baby corn and tomato sauce were dented. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024

The hunk of corn poking out like a mountain on the soup’s surface is a familiar wonder. —Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024

Early in the spring season especially, they’re still used to eating hatchery pellets, which is ultimately why a little ball of Power Bait, a corn kernel, or salmon egg fools them. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 4 Apr. 2024

Mike Berget, whose family grows over 10,000 acres of corn and beans and produces weaner pigs near Wiota, is one of those farmers. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024

Or for a fresh take, try the garden variety, complete with ricotta cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, fresh corn kernels, and basil leaves. —Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024

In addition to corn, Xiquita’s menu will show off ingredients native to Mexico, such as hoja santa and epazote. —Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024

His lunch congealed before him: overdone chicken drying white as sawdust, creamed corn solidifying in its pale-gold fat. —Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2024

Although corn is indigenous to the Americas, it was introduced in West Africa by Atlantic slave traders and quickly became a staple of African cooking. —The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024

Verb

What is corned beef?How this recipe became a favorite for St. Patrick's Day When is St. Patrick's Day? —Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024

Inside, Crusius continued firing with an AK-47-style rifle, corning shoppers at a bank near the entrance where nine were killed, before shooting at the checkout area and people in aisles. —Time, 5 July 2023

But corn itself — whether from the cob, a can or in dog food — can be a healthy part of a dog's diet. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 22 May 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, going back to Old English, "grain of a cereal grass, seed, berry," going back to Germanic *kurno- (whence also Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Old High German & Old Norse korn "grain of a cereal grass, seed," Gothic kaurn), going back to European Indo-European *ǵr̥H-no-, whence also Latin grānum "seed, especially of a cereal grass," Old Irish grán, Welsh grawn, Old Church Slavic zrĭno "grain, seed," Serbian & Croatian zȑno, Russian zernó, Lithuanian žìrnis "pea"

Note: The noun *ǵr̥H-no is sometimes taken to be a zero-grade derivative of Indo-European *ǵerh₂- "become old, ripen" (see geriatric entry 1), but this has been disputed.

Verb

derivative of corn entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English corne, probably borrowed from Medieval Latin cornū "horn, horny excrescence," going back to Latin, "horn" — more at horn

Note: Late Old English corn in this sense, attested in the medical text Lacnunga, a collection of remedies, charms and prayers, may be from Latin or an extended sense of Old English corn corn entry 1.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing corn

• blue corn
• corn bread
• corn chip
• corn cockle
• corn pone
• corn flour
• corn whiskey
• corn syrup
• corn sugar
• corn snake
• dent corn
• corn snow
• corn salad
• green corn
• hulled corn
• flint corn
• field corn
• pod corn
• Indian corn
• sweet corn
• corn leaf aphid
• corn oil
• corn-fed
• corn on the cob
• northern corn rootworm
• corn rootworm
• corn dog
• European corn borer
• corn silk
• corn poppy
• corn earworm
• corn borer
• corn dodger
• southwestern corn borer
• squirrel corn
• southern corn rootworm

Kids Definition

corn

1 of 3 noun

ˈkȯ(ə)rn 

1

: a tall American cereal grass plant widely grown for its large ears of starchy grain which come in many varieties

2

: the seeds of a corn plant that are used especially as food for humans and livestock and are typically yellow or whitish

3

: an ear of corn with or without its leafy outer covering

spent the afternoon picking corn

4

: corny actions or speech

corn

2 of 3 verb

: to preserve by packing with salt or by soaking in salty water

corned beef

corn

3 of 3 noun

: a local hardening and thickening of skin (as on a toe)

Etymology

Noun

Old English corn "seeds of a cereal plant"

Noun

Middle English corne "thickening of the skin," from early French corne "horn," from Latin cornu "horn, point" — related to unicorn

Medical Definition

corn

noun

ˈkȯ(ə)rn 

: a local hardening and thickening of epidermis (as on a toe)