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
6
7
corned; corning; corns
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
: a local hardening and thickening of epidermis (as on a toe)
Synonyms
Examples of corn in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a story about a lost puppy that was pure corn
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 15 May 2024
Back in the ‘90s, researchers realized that corn and tomatoes were able to sample the saliva of the caterpillar eating them, and then synthesize chemicals that summon the exact parasitic wasp that would come and inject the caterpillars with their larva.
—Elizabeth A. Harris, New York Times, 13 May 2024
Mix pasta salad: Stir in ground beef mixture, corn, black beans, tomatoes, red bell pepper, jalapeño, and remaining salt and pepper.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 9 May 2024
The three staple crops dominating modern diets – corn, rice and wheat – are familiar to Americans.
—Stephen Wooding, The Conversation, 1 May 2024
In comparison, farmland rent in top corn and soybean producers Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa averaged about $251 per acre in 2023, USDA data shows.
—P.j. Huffstutter and Christopher Walljasper, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 2024
Beyond Rockwell’s enthralling dominant figure, it’s accented by the meshing of urban and agricultural images, including a plane and train moving opposite ways and a cow, corn and wheat seeming to signify our roots and direction.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2024
Starters, including white corn guacamole and chips, will be $5 on Sunday.
—Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 3 May 2024
Specials include $5 starters including white corn guacamole and chips, $7 margaritas, and $9 pizza and beer.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
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
Noun
Their products are free from artificial colors, sweeteners, and other additives, as well as corn, yeast, soy, milk, and salt.
—Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 15 May 2024
Back in the ‘90s, researchers realized that corn and tomatoes were able to sample the saliva of the caterpillar eating them, and then synthesize chemicals that summon the exact parasitic wasp that would come and inject the caterpillars with their larva.
—Elizabeth A. Harris, New York Times, 13 May 2024
Mix pasta salad: Stir in ground beef mixture, corn, black beans, tomatoes, red bell pepper, jalapeño, and remaining salt and pepper.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 9 May 2024
The three staple crops dominating modern diets – corn, rice and wheat – are familiar to Americans.
—Stephen Wooding, The Conversation, 1 May 2024
In comparison, farmland rent in top corn and soybean producers Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa averaged about $251 per acre in 2023, USDA data shows.
—P.j. Huffstutter and Christopher Walljasper, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 2024
Beyond Rockwell’s enthralling dominant figure, it’s accented by the meshing of urban and agricultural images, including a plane and train moving opposite ways and a cow, corn and wheat seeming to signify our roots and direction.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2024
Starters, including white corn guacamole and chips, will be $5 on Sunday.
—Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 3 May 2024
Specials include $5 starters including white corn guacamole and chips, $7 margaritas, and $9 pizza and beer.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 3 May 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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'corn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near corn
Cite this Entry
“Corn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corn. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
corn
1 of 3 noun1
: 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
: a local hardening and thickening of epidermis (as on a toe)
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