Corn

n. [A-S. corn, O. Sax. carni, D. koorn, Ger., Dan., Sw., & Icel. korn, Goth. kaurn, allied with Lat. granum. See GRAIN.] 1. A single seed of certain plants, as wheat, rye, barley, and maize; a grain. ☞ In this sense it has a plural; as, three barley-corns make an inch. It is generally applied to edible seeds, which, when ripe, are hard. 2. The various cereal or farinaceous grains which grow in ears, and are used for food, as wheat, oats, rye, barley, maize; — used collectively. ☞ In Scotland, the term is generally restricted to oats, in the United States to maize, or Indian corn, of which several kinds are cultivated; as, yellow corn, which grows chiefly in the Northern States, and is yellow when ripe; white or southern corn, which grows to a great height, and has white and oblong seeds; sweet corn, grown chiefly at the north, and having seeds that wrinkle when ripe and dry; pop-corn, which is a small variety, having small grains. 3. The plants which produce corn, when growing in the field; the stalks and ears, or the stalks, ears, and seeds, after reaping and before thrashing. In one night, ere glimpse of morn, His shadowy flail had thrashed the corn. Milton. The soft inclining fields of corn. Thomson. 4. A small, hard particle; a grain.