corn-cob

A child holds a corn-cob at a farm stand.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The central core of an ear of corn: "corn-cob" refers to the woody, cylindrical central part of an ear of corn (maize) to which the kernels are attached. It is typically discarded after the kernels have been eaten or removed.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After eating the corn, she threw the corn-cob into the compost bin. (The central core of the ear of corn.)
  • The farmer used dried corn-cobs as fuel for the stove. (The woody central part used as a fuel source.)

Advanced Usage

• "corn-cob pipe": a tobacco pipe made from a dried corn-cob.

  • He smoked a corn-cob pipe while sitting on the porch. (A pipe crafted from the central core of corn.)

• "corn-cob jelly": a jelly made by boiling corn-cobs with sugar and pectin.

  • The cook made a sweet corn-cob jelly from the leftover cobs. (A preserve made from the central cores.)

Variants and Related Words

• Corncob (n): (alternative spelling) the same as "corn-cob".

  • The children used corncobs for a craft project. (The central core of corn used for making decorations.)

• Cob (n): a shortened form of "corn-cob", sometimes used informally.

  • The pig ate the cobs from the field. (The central cores of corn ears.)

Synonyms

• Maize core: the central part of a maize ear (scientific term).
• Ear core: the inner part of an ear of corn.

Related Idioms

• "Not worth a corn-cob": an informal expression meaning something is worthless or of little value.

  • That old car is not worth a corn-cob. (It has almost no value.)

• "As dry as a corn-cob": describing something extremely dry.

  • The desert air was as dry as a corn-cob. (Very dry and parched.)