[cone] n [MF or L; MF, fr. L conus, fr. Gk konos] (1545) 1 a: a solid generated by rotating a right triangle about one of its legs--called also right circular cone b: a solid bounded by a circular or other closed plane base and the surface formed by line segments joining every point of the boundary of the base to a common vertex c: a surface traced by a moving straight line passing through a fixed vertex
2. a: a mass of ovule-bearing or pollen-bearing scales or bracts in trees of the pine family or in cycads that are arranged usu. on a somewhat elongated axis b: any of several flower or fruit clusters suggesting a cone
3: something that resembles a cone in shape: as a: any of the conical photosensitive receptor cells of the vertebrate retina that function in color vision--compare rod 3 b: any of a family (Conidae) of tropical marine gastropod mollusks that inject their prey with a potent toxin c: the apex of a volcano d: a crisp usu. cone-shaped wafer for holding ice cream
[2]cone vt coned ; con.ing (ca. 1859) 1: to make cone-shaped
2: to bevel like the slanting surface of a cone "~ a tire"