corn
KAWN
Corn (noun) means a tall cereal plant grown for its large yellow kernels, called maize outside North America. Example: “We roasted fresh corn on the grill and ate it with butter.”
noun
1
A tall cereal plant grown for its large yellow kernels, called maize outside North America.
"We roasted fresh corn on the grill and ate it with butter."
"The farmer harvested the corn in late autumn before the first frost."
"They grew rows of sweet corn behind the barn."
2
In British English, the main cereal grain grown in a particular region (such as wheat).
"The mill ground local corn into flour for the village bakery."
"Farmers in the region cut their corn once the weather turned dry."
"The fields of corn stretched to the horizon in the English countryside."
3
A small, hard patch of thickened skin, usually on the foot, caused by friction.
"The chemist sold her a small pad to protect the corn on her heel."
"He had a corn from walking so far in his boots."
"The tight shoes gave her a painful corn on her little toe."
4
Something considered old-fashioned, sentimental, or cheesy, especially in entertainment.
"Some people find that old holiday song pure corn, but others love it."
"The ending of the film was such corn that we all groaned."
"The dialogue in the movie was pure corn."
verb
1
To preserve meat in a coarse salt brine.
"Butchers used to corn beef so it would keep through the winter."
"She corned the brisket in brine for a week before cooking it."
"The recipe shows you how to corn your own beef at home."
How to use corn
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- corns
- Third person singular
- corns
- Past tense
- corned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We roasted fresh _____ on the grill and ate it with butter.
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."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for corn
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.'
