What is "corn"

Indian corn \Indian corn\ (Bot.), A cereal plant of the genus Zea ( Zea Mays), also simply called corn, used widely as a food; the maize, a native plant of America; more specifically: a primitive variety of Zea Mays having variegated kernels on each cob, in distinction from the more commonly used yellow corn; it is often used as decoration at Thanksgiving time. See Corn, and Maize.

Note: In modern American usage, the word corn when unmodified usually refers to yellow corn, and Indian corn refers to the variegated variety.

Maize \Maize\ (m[=a]z), n. [Sp. maiz. fr. mahiz or mahis, is the language of the Island of Haiti.] (Bot.) A large species of American grass of the genus Zea ( Zea Mays), widely cultivated as a forage and food plant; Indian corn, commonly called corn. Also, its seed, growing on cobs, and used as food for men and animals.

Maize eater (Zo["o]l.), a South American bird of the genus Pseudoleistes, allied to the troupials.

Maize yellow, a delicate pale yellow.

"grain," Old English corn, from Proto-Germanic *kurnam "small seed" (cognates: Old Frisian and Old Saxon korn "grain," Middle Dutch coren, German Korn, Old Norse korn, Gothic kaurn), from PIE root *gre-no- "grain" (cognates: Old Church Slavonic zruno "grain," Latin granum "seed," Lithuanian žirnis "pea"). The sense of the Old English word was "grain with the seed still in" (as in barleycorn) rather than a particular plant.\n

\nLocally understood to denote the leading crop of a district. Restricted to the indigenous "maize" in America (c.1600, originally Indian corn, but the adjective was dropped), usually wheat in England, oats in Scotland and Ireland, while Korn means "rye" in parts of Germany. Maize was introduced to China by 1550, it thrived where rice did not grow well and was a significant factor in the 18th century population boom there. Cornflakes first recorded 1907. Corned beef so called for the "corns" or grains of salt with which it is preserved; from verb corn "to salt" (1560s).

"hardening of skin," early 15c., from Old French corne (13c.) "horn (of an animal)," later, "corn on the foot," from Latin cornu "horn" (see horn (n.)).

Etymology 1 n. (context British uncountable English) The main cereal plant grown for its grain in a given region, such as oats in parts of Scotland and Ireland, and wheat or barley in England and Wales. vb. 1 (context US Canada English) To granulate; to form a substance into grains. 2 (context US Canada English) To preserve using coarse salt, e.g. corned beef 3 (context US Canada English) To provide with corn (typically maize; or, in Scotland, oats) for feed. 4 (context transitive English) To render intoxicated. Etymology 2

n. A type of callus, usually on the feet or hands. Etymology 3

n. (context US Canada English) Something (e.g. acting, humour, music, or writing) which is deemed old-fashioned or intended to induce emotion.(cite web title = Corn (emotion) publisher = Cambridge University Press work = Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary url=http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=17186&dict=CALD) Etymology 4

n. (context uncountable English) short for '''corn snow'''. A type of granular snow formed by repeated melting and re-freezing, often in mountain spring conditions.

1. n. tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times [syn: maize, Indian corn, Zea mays]

2. the dried grains or kernels or corn used as animal feed or ground for meal

3. ears of corn grown for human food [syn: edible corn]

4. a hard thickening of the skin (especially on the top or sides of the toes) caused by the pressure of ill-fitting shoes [syn: clavus]

5. annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains [syn: wheat]

6. whiskey distilled from a mash of not less than 80 percent corn [syn: corn whiskey, corn whisky]

7. something sentimental or trite; "that movie was pure corn"

1. v. feed (cattle) with corn

2. preserve with salt; "corned beef"

Corn is a 2004 drama- thriller starring Jena Malone about the dangers of genetically modified food.

Corn or maize is a large-grained crop native to the Americas; in British English, "corn" can mean any cereal.

Corn may also refer to:

Corn is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:

• Alfred Corn (born 1943), American poet and essayist
• David Corn, American political journalist and author
• Kevin Corn, American voice actor
• Rob Corn, American television producer and director

A corn (or clavus, plural clavi or clavuses) is a distinctively shaped callus of dead skin that usually occurs on thin or glabrous (hairless and smooth) skin surfaces, especially on the dorsal surface of toes or fingers. They can sometimes occur on the thicker palmar or plantar skin surfaces. Corns form when the pressure point against the skin traces an elliptical or semi-elliptical path during the rubbing motion, the center of which is at the point of pressure, gradually widening. If there is constant stimulation of the tissue producing the corns, even after the corn is surgically removed, the skin may continue to grow as a corn.