corn

noun (1), often attributive

\ ˈkȯrn

Definition of corn

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 chiefly dialectal : a small hard particle : grain

2 : a small hard seed —usually used in combination peppercornbarleycorn

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

4a : 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 : corn whiskey

6a : something (such as writing, music, or acting) that is corny

b : the quality or state of being corny : corniness

7 : corn snow

corn

verb

corned; corning; corns

Definition of corn (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to form into grains : granulate

2a : 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

corn

noun (2)

Definition of corn (Entry 3 of 3)

: a local hardening and thickening of epidermis (as on a toe)

History and Etymology for corn

Noun (1)

Middle English, going back to Old English, "grain of a cereal grass, seed, berry," going back to Germanic *kurno- (whence also Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Old High German & Old Norse korn "grain of a cereal grass, seed," Gothic kaurn), going back to European Indo-European *ǵr̥H-no-, whence also Latin grānum "seed, especially of a cereal grass," Old Irish grán, Welsh grawn, Old Church Slavic zrĭno "grain, seed," Serbian & Croatian zȑno, Russian zernó, Lithuanian žìrnis "pea"

Note: The noun *ǵr̥H-no is sometimes taken to be a zero-grade derivative of Indo-European *ǵerh₂- "become old, ripen" (see geronto-), but this has been disputed.

Verb

derivative of corn entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English corne, probably borrowed from Medieval Latin cornū "horn, horny excrescence," going back to Latin, "horn" — more at horn

Note: Late Old English corn in this sense, attested in the medical text Lacnunga, a collection of remedies, charms and prayers, may be from Latin or an extended sense of Old English corn corn entry 1.

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More Definitions for corn

corn

noun

\ ˈkȯrn

Kids Definition of corn

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : 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 animals and are typically yellow or whitish

3 : an ear of corn with or without its leafy outer covering We spent the afternoon picking corn.

corn

noun

Kids Definition of corn (Entry 2 of 2)

: a hardening and thickening of the skin (as on a person's toe)

corn

noun

\ ˈkȯ(ə)rn

Medical Definition of corn

: a local hardening and thickening of epidermis (as on a toe)

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corn

Definition of corn

First Known Use of corn

History and Etymology for corn

Kids Definition of corn

Medical Definition of corn

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