cob
/kɔb/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Adult male swan: A "cob" is the term for a fully grown male swan, as opposed to the female (pen) or young (cygnet).
- Stocky short-legged harness horse: A "cob" refers to a type of horse that is strong, solidly built, and has relatively short legs, often used for riding or light driving.
- The hard central core of an ear of maize (corn): A "cob" is the cylindrical, woody part on which the kernels of corn grow.
- A rounded lump or mass: A "cob" can describe a small, roundish piece of something, such as coal or bread.
- A hazelnut or filbert: The nut of trees from the genus Corylus, such as the hazel tree.
- A building material: A mixture of clay, straw, and sometimes sand, used in traditional building construction.
Usage Examples
- Adult male swan:
- The cob fiercely defended the nest from intruders.
- Stocky horse:
- She rides a gentle cob that is perfect for trails.
- Corn core:
- After dinner, the corn cobs were added to the compost pile.
- Rounded lump:
- He threw a cob of coal onto the fire.
- We shared a warm cob of bread.
- Hazelnut:
- The recipe calls for a handful of chopped cobs.
- Building material:
- The old cottage had walls made of cob.
Advanced Usage
- "Corn on the cob": This is a common phrase referring to an ear of maize (corn) when cooked and served with the kernels still attached to the core.
- We had corn on the cob at the summer barbecue.
- "Cob loaf": Refers to a round, crusty loaf of bread.
- She served the soup with a fresh cob loaf.
Variants and Related Words
- Cobnut (n): Another term for a hazelnut, especially a cultivated one.
- The squirrels were gathering cobnuts.
- Cobble (v/n): While distinct, this verb (meaning to assemble roughly) and noun (a rounded stone) are sometimes associated with the "rounded lump" sense of "cob".
- Cobweb (n): A spider's web. This is a compound word; the "cob" part is an old English word for "spider," unrelated to the main definitions above.
Synonyms
- For the swan: Male swan.
- For the horse: Pony (though a cob is a specific type), stock horse.
- For the corn core: Corncore, ear.
- For the lump: Nugget, lump, chunk.
- For the nut: Hazelnut, filbert.
- For the material: Adobe, clay lump.
Related Phrases
- To have a cob on (British informal, phrasal verb): To be in a bad mood or be angry.
- He's got a real cob on this morning.
- Cob together (phrasal verb): To assemble or put together something hastily or roughly.
- We managed to cob together a meal from what was in the fridge.
Related Idioms
- Off the cob: Referring to corn kernels that have been removed from the cob.
- The salad was made with corn off the cob.
- (As) strong as a cob: An expression highlighting the strength and sturdiness of a cob horse.
- That little pony is as strong as a cob.
Noun
- adult male swan
- white gull having a black back and wings
- stocky short-legged harness horse
- nut of any of several trees of the genus Corylus