noun A1 Beginner Common

corn

KAWN

Corn (noun) means a tall cereal plant grown for its large yellow kernels, called maize outside North America. Example: “They grew rows of sweet corn behind the barn.”

noun

A tall cereal plant grown for its large yellow kernels, called maize outside North America.

"They grew rows of sweet corn behind the barn."

In British English, the main cereal grain grown in a particular region (such as wheat).

"The fields of corn stretched to the horizon in the English countryside."

A small, hard patch of thickened skin, usually on the foot, caused by friction.

"The tight shoes gave her a painful corn on her little toe."

Something considered old-fashioned, sentimental, or cheesy, especially in entertainment.

"The dialogue in the movie was pure corn."

verb

To preserve meat in a coarse salt brine.

"The recipe shows you how to corn your own beef at home."

How to Use Corn

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA cereal grain (especially maize in American English), or informally something cheesy and sentimental.

UK vs US

In the US "corn" almost always means maize; in the UK it historically meant whatever grain was the local staple, often wheat.

Common pairings

sweet corn corn on the cob pure corn

Word Forms

corned past tense, corns plural, corns plural, corns singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “corn” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

They grew rows of sweet _____ behind the barn.

Etymology

From Old English "corn," from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "grain," ultimately related to a root meaning "worn down" or "ground." A doublet of "grain" and "granum." The specific American sense of "maize" grew out of the older phrase "Indian corn."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

View more →

maize sweetcorn mealie grain cereal

Related Words

rice seed grain particle texture cereal maize

Rhymes for corn

born torn worn horn porn Zorn morn Dorn sworn acorn thorn adorn

See all rhymes for corn →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “corn” mean?

The word “corn” means a tall cereal plant grown for its large yellow kernels, called maize outside North America. In plain terms, a cereal grain (especially maize in American English), or informally something cheesy and sentimental.

How do you pronounce “corn”?

“Corn” is pronounced KAWN (/ˈkɔɹn/ in IPA).

How do you use “corn” in a sentence?

Here is “corn” used in a sentence: “They grew rows of sweet corn behind the barn.”

What part of speech is “corn”?

Depending on how it is used, “corn” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “corn” come from?

The word “corn” comes from Old English.

Is “corn” a common word?

“Corn” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “corn” have?

“Corn” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tall cereal plant grown for its large yellow kernels, called maize outside North America.

What is the difference between corn and maize?

Corn and maize refer to the same tall cereal plant with large yellow kernels. 'Corn' is the usual North American term, while 'maize' is used in British English and in scientific contexts.

What is the difference between corn and wheat?

In American English, corn means maize, which is a different plant from wheat. In British English, however, 'corn' can itself refer to the leading local grain, which is often wheat, so the meaning depends on the region.

Is 'corn' countable or uncountable?

As a grain or food, corn is usually uncountable, so you say 'some corn' rather than 'a corn.' To count it, you use a unit such as 'an ear of corn' or 'a kernel of corn.'

People Also Searched

rice seed grain particle texture cereal maize