corn 1
/kawrn/ , n.
1. Also called Indian corn; esp. technical and Brit., maize . a tall cereal plant, Zea mays, cultivated in many varieties, having a jointed, solid stem and bearing the grain, seeds, or kernels on large ears.
2. the grain, seeds, or kernels of this plant, used for human food or for fodder.
3. the ears of this plant.
4. the edible seed of certain other cereal plants, esp. wheat in England and oats in Scotland.
5. the plants themselves.
6. sweet corn.
7. See corn whiskey .
8. Skiing. See corn snow .
9. Informal. old-fashioned, trite, or mawkishly sentimental material, as a joke, a story, or music.
v.t.
10. to preserve and season with salt in grains.
11. to preserve and season with brine.
12. to granulate, as gunpowder.
13. to plant (land) with corn.
14. to feed with corn.
[ bef. 900; ME, OE; c. D koren, ON korn, G Korn, Goth kaúrn; akin to L granum GRAIN, Russ zernó ]
corn 2
/kawrn/ , n. Pathol.
a horny induration or callosity of the epidermis, usually with a central core, formed esp. on the toes or feet and caused by undue pressure or friction.
[ 1375-1425; late ME corne cornu HORN, hence a horny hardening of the cuticle. See CORNU ]