corm

[ kawrm ]

noun

, Botany.

1. an enlarged, fleshy, bulblike base of a stem, as in the crocus.

corm

/ kɔːm /

noun

1. an organ of vegetative reproduction in plants such as the crocus, consisting of a globular stem base swollen with food and surrounded by papery scale leaves Compare bulb

corm

/ kôrm /

1. A fleshy underground stem that is similar to a bulb but stores its food as stem tissue and has fewer and thinner leaflike scales. The crocus and gladiolus produce new shoots from corms.
2. Compare bulb

Derived Forms

• ˈcormous, adjective

Other Words From

• cormlike adjective
• cormoid adjective
• cormous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of corm¹

1820–30; < New Latin cormus < Greek kormós a tree trunk with boughs lopped off, akin to keírein to cut off, hew

Word History and Origins

Origin of corm¹

C19: from New Latin cormus, from Greek kormos tree trunk from which the branches have been lopped

Example Sentences

Anemone corms look like a wrinkled acorn, while ranunculus corms resemble a tiny, shriveled octopus — neither appears very promising.

From Seattle Times

It all starts with the planting of corms, which look like bulbs.

From BBC

Colchicum corms contain colchicine, a powerful alkaloid that’s been used in pharmaceuticals for years.

From Seattle Times

Provided that you can keep squirrels from devouring the newly planted corms, all crocus are long-lasting once established and readily multiply.

From Seattle Times

If you are planting corms that are hard to orient visually, place them on their side.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• corn