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
1
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 smell of warm popcorn drifted through the cinema foyer."
"She shared a big bowl of salty popcorn with her brother during the film."
2
The variety of corn grown specifically for popping.
"Farmers plant popcorn separately from sweet corn."
"Popcorn has a hard outer shell, which is why it bursts when heated."
"The farmer showed us a field of popcorn growing tall in the summer sun."
verb
1
To pop repeatedly in quick succession, like popcorn cooking.
"Fireworks popcorned across the night sky."
"The oil in the hot pan began to popcorn as the seeds burst one after another."
"Raindrops popcorned on the tin roof of the shed."
How to use popcorn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe snack made from corn kernels that burst when heated.
Common pairings
bag of popcorn
buttered popcorn
popcorn machine
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Word forms
- Plural
- popcorns
- Third person singular
- popcorns
- Past tense
- popcorned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
