cone

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noun \ˈkōn\

Definition of cone

1a : a solid generated by rotating a right triangle about one of its legs —called also right circular coneb : a solid bounded by a circular or other closed plane base and the surface formed by line segments joining every point of the boundary of the base to a common vertex — see volume tablec : a surface traced by a moving straight line passing through a fixed vertex
2a : a mass of ovule-bearing or pollen-bearing scales or bracts in most conifers or in cycads that are arranged usually on a somewhat elongated axisb : any of several flower or fruit clusters suggesting a cone
3 : something that resembles a cone in shape: such asa : any of the conical photosensitive receptor cells of the vertebrate retina that function in color vision — compare rod 3b : any of a family (Conidae) of tropical marine gastropod mollusks that inject their prey with a potent toxinc : the apex of a volcanod : a crisp usually cone-shaped wafer for holding ice cream

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin conus, from Greek kōnos

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First Known Use: 1545

See Words from the same year

verb

;

1845

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noun

: a shape that has a pointed top and sides that form a circle at the bottom
: a hard and dry part that is the fruit of a pine tree or other evergreen plant and contains many seeds
: something that looks like a cone

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noun \ˈkōn\

1 : a thin crisp cookie shaped to hold ice cream
2 : a scaly structure of certain trees (as the pine or fir) that produces pollen or egg cells and seeds
3 : a shape with a circular base and sides that taper evenly to a point
4 : a cell of the retina of the eye that is sensitive to colored light

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noun \ˈkōn\

1: a solid having a circular base and sides that slope evenly to a point
2a: any of the conical photosensitive receptor cells of the vertebrate retina that function in color vision—compare rodb: any of a family (Conidae) of numerous somewhat conical tropical gastropod mollusks that include a few highly poisonous forms—see conus
3: a cusp of a tooth especially in the upper jaw