seed-corn

A farmer carefully selects seed-corn for planting.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Grain kept for planting: "seed-corn" refers to grain, such as wheat or barley, that is saved and set aside specifically for sowing in the ground to produce a new crop, rather than for consumption or other uses.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer carefully stored the seed-corn in a dry barn to ensure a good harvest next spring. (Grain reserved for planting.)
  • During the famine, the villagers refused to eat their seed-corn, knowing it was essential for future crops. (Grain kept for sowing, not for food.)

Advanced Usage

• "to eat one's seed-corn": a metaphorical expression meaning to consume resources that are needed for future growth or investment, often leading to long-term loss.
  • The company spent its entire budget on luxury offices, effectively eating its seed-corn for future expansion. (Using up essential capital meant for development.)

Variants and Related Words

• Seed (n): the small, hard part of a plant from which a new plant grows.

  • She planted the seed in the garden. (The part of the plant used for reproduction.)

• Corn (n): a general term for cereal crops like wheat, barley, or maize.

  • The field was full of ripe corn. (The grain crop.)

Synonyms

• Sowing grain: grain set aside for planting.
• Seed grain: another term for seed-corn, meaning grain kept for sowing.

Phrasal Verbs

• (No common phrasal verbs directly formed with "seed-corn".)

Related Idioms

• "To keep seed-corn for a rainy day": to save essential resources for future emergencies.

  • The wise farmer always kept extra seed-corn for a rainy day. (Reserved grain for difficult times.)

• "Not to sell the seed-corn": to avoid using up resources that are necessary for future production.

  • The treasurer advised the board not to sell the seed-corn by withdrawing all investments. (To avoid depleting capital needed for growth.)