noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

popcorn

POP-kawn

Popcorn (noun) means a snack made from corn kernels heated until they burst open and puff up. Example: “We grabbed a bucket of popcorn before the movie started.”

noun

A snack made from corn kernels heated until they burst open and puff up.

"We grabbed a bucket of popcorn before the movie started."

The variety of corn grown specifically for popping.

"Farmers plant popcorn separately from sweet corn."

verb

To pop repeatedly in quick succession, like popcorn cooking.

"Fireworks popcorned across the night sky."

How to use popcorn

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe snack made from corn kernels that burst when heated.

Common pairings

bag of popcorn buttered popcorn popcorn machine

Word forms

popcorned past tense, popcorns plural, popcorns singular

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We grabbed a bucket of _____ before the movie started.

Etymology

Short for "popped corn," from pop + corn.

Frequently asked questions

What does “popcorn” mean?

The word “popcorn” means a snack made from corn kernels heated until they burst open and puff up. In plain terms, the snack made from corn kernels that burst when heated.

How do you pronounce “popcorn”?

“Popcorn” is pronounced POP-kawn (/ˈpɑp.kɔɹn/ in IPA).

How do you use “popcorn” in a sentence?

Here is “popcorn” used in a sentence: “We grabbed a bucket of popcorn before the movie started.”

What part of speech is “popcorn”?

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

Is “popcorn” a common word?

“Popcorn” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “popcorn” have?

“Popcorn” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a snack made from corn kernels heated until they burst open and puff up.

What is the difference between popcorn and corn?

Popcorn refers both to the snack made from corn kernels heated until they burst and puff up, and to the specific variety of corn grown for popping. Regular corn, such as sweet corn, does not pop in the same way because it lacks the moisture and hull structure needed to burst.

What does it mean when something popcorns?

Used as a verb, popcorn describes something popping repeatedly in quick succession, similar to the sound and motion of popcorn cooking, such as gunfire or a series of small explosions.

Why does popcorn pop?

Popcorn pops because the kernels are a variety of corn grown specifically for popping, containing moisture that turns to steam under heat and causes the kernel to burst open.