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View synonyms for cornerstone

cornerstone

[ kawr-ner-stohn ]

noun

  1. a stone uniting two masonry walls at an intersection.
  2. a stone representing the nominal starting place in the construction of a monumental building, usually carved with the date and laid with appropriate ceremonies.
  3. something that is essential, indispensable, or basic:

    The cornerstone of democratic government is a free press.

  4. the chief foundation on which something is constructed or developed:

    The cornerstone of his argument was that all people are created equal.



cornerstone

/ ˈkɔːnəˌstəʊn /

noun

  1. a stone at the corner of a wall, uniting two intersecting walls; quoin
  2. a stone placed at the corner of a building during a ceremony to mark the start of construction
  3. a person or thing of prime importance; basis

    the cornerstone of the whole argument

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cornerstone1

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; corner, stone
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Example Sentences

The researchers envision a future where adaptive therapy becomes a cornerstone of cancer care.

The present study sets a cornerstone in that.

Far worse will be the long-lasting erosion of the integrity of the department, whose fidelity to the principle of justice without fear or favor is a cornerstone of American democracy.

“It doesn’t make sense to have this huge cornerstone of our housing policy solution be at risk.”

She launched a $1-billion plan to expand computing across the university, for instance, with a new School of Advanced Computing as its cornerstone.

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