cornsilk

Thân thiện

A farmer holds an ear of corn, showing its bright yellow cornsilk.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The fine, thread-like strands found on an ear of corn (maize): Cornsilk refers specifically to the long, silky, filamentous styles that protrude from the tip of a corn cob. These strands are part of the female flower of the corn plant and serve to catch pollen.

Usage

• Noun:
  • The recipe calls for fresh cornsilk to make a herbal tea.
  • Before boiling the corn, you should remove the outer husk and the cornsilk.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical Context: In botany, "cornsilk" is the common name for the stigma and style of the maize plant (). It is often used in traditional medicine.
  • Cornsilk has been studied for its potential diuretic properties.

Variants and Related Words

• Corn silk: This is a common alternative spelling, written as two separate words. The meaning is identical.
  • You can find dried corn silk in some health food stores.

Synonyms

• Maize silk: A less common synonym, using the term "maize" for corn.
• Stigma and style (of corn): The precise botanical terms for this structure.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The word "cornsilk" is almost exclusively used in this botanical/culinary sense. It is a compound noun formed from "corn" and "silk," describing its appearance. It does not commonly have other metaphorical meanings.

Học thuật

Noun

1. each of the long filamentous styles that grow as a silky tuft at the tip of an ear of Indian corn

Từ đồng nghĩa

• corn silk