corner

[ kawr-ner ]

noun

1. the place at which two converging lines or surfaces meet.
2. the space between two converging lines or surfaces near their intersection; angle:

   a chair in the corner of the room.

3. a projecting angle, especially of a rectangular figure or object:

   He bumped into the corner of the table.

4. the point where two streets meet:

   the corner of Market and Main Streets.

5. an end; margin; edge.
6. any narrow, secluded, or secret place.
7. an awkward or embarrassing position, especially one from which escape is impossible.

   Synonyms: dead end, impasse, predicament

8. Finance. a monopolizing or a monopoly of the available supply of a stock or commodity to a point permitting control of price (applied only when monopoly price is exacted).
9. region; part; quarter:

   from every corner of the empire.

10. Surveying.
    1. the point of intersection of the section lines of a land survey, often marked by a monument or some object, as a pipe that is set or driven into the ground. Compare section ( def 5 ).
    2. a stake, tree, or rock marking the intersection of property lines.
11. a piece to protect the corner of anything.
12. Usually the corners. Baseball. first base or third base:

    Votto is out on strikes for the third out, and the Reds leave runners on the corners.

13. Baseball.
    1. any point on the line forming the left or right boundary of home plate:

       a pitch on the corner.

    2. the area formed by the intersection of the foul line and the outfield fence.
14. Boxing.
    1. the immediate area formed by any of the four angles in the ring.
    2. one of the two assigned corners where a boxer rests between rounds and behind which the handlers sit during a fight.
15. Soccer. corner kick.

adjective

1. situated on or at a corner where two streets meet:

   a corner drugstore.

2. made to fit or be used in a corner:

   a corner cabinet.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with corners.
2. to place in or drive into a corner.
3. to force into an awkward or difficult position or one from which escape is impossible:

   He finally cornered the thief.

4. to gain control of (a stock, commodity, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to meet in or be situated on or at a corner.
2. to form a corner in a stock or commodity.
3. (of an automobile) to turn, especially at a speed relatively high for the angle of the turn involved.

corner

¹

/ ˈkɔːnə /

noun

1. the place, position, or angle formed by the meeting of two converging lines or surfaces
2. a projecting angle of a solid object or figure
3. the place where two streets meet
4. any small, secluded, secret, or private place
5. a dangerous or awkward position, esp from which escape is difficult

   a tight corner

6. any part, region or place, esp a remote place
7. something used to protect or mark a corner, as of the hard cover of a book
8. commerce a monopoly over the supply of a commodity so that its market price can be controlled
9. soccer hockey a free kick or shot from the corner of the field, taken against a defending team when the ball goes out of play over their goal line after last touching one of their players
10. either of two opposite angles of a boxing ring in which the opponents take their rests
11. mountaineering a junction between two rock faces forming an angle of between 60° and 120° US namedihedral
12. cut corners
    to do something in the easiest and shortest way, esp at the expense of high standards
13. round the corner or just round the corner
    close at hand
14. turn the corner
    to pass the critical point (in an illness, etc)
15. modifier located on a corner

    a corner shop

16. modifier suitable or designed for a corner

    a corner table

17. logic either of a pair of symbols used in the same way as ordinary quotation marks to indicate quasi quotation See quasi-quotation

verb

1. tr to manoeuvre (a person or animal) into a position from which escape is difficult or impossible

   finally they cornered the fox

2. tr to furnish or provide with corners
3. tr to place in or move into a corner
4. tr
   1. to acquire enough of (a commodity) to attain control of the market
   2. Alsoengross to attain control of (a market) in such a manner Compare forestall
5. intr (of vehicles, etc) to turn a corner
6. intr to be situated on a corner
7. intr (in soccer, etc) to take a corner

Corner

²

noun

1. the Corner informal.
   an area in central Australia, at the junction of the borders of Queensland and South Australia

Word History and Origins

Origin of corner¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Old French cornier(e), “a corner,” from Vulgar Latin corna, Latin cornua, plural of cornū “(animal) horn” + -er noun suffix; horn; cornu -er )

Word History and Origins

Origin of corner¹

C13: from Old French corniere, from Latin cornū point, extremity, horn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cut corners,
   1. to use a shorter route.
   2. to reduce costs or care in execution:

      cutting corners to meet the foreign competition.

2. rough corners, rude, boorish, or unsophisticated characteristics, manners, or the like:

   Despite his rough corners, he was very likable.

3. the four corners of the earth, the most distant or remote regions:

   They traveled to the four corners of the earth.

4. turn the corner, to pass through a crisis safely:

   When the fever passed, we knew he had turned the corner.

More idioms and phrases containing corner

In addition to the idiom beginning with corner , also see around the corner ; cut corners ; four corners of the earth ; in a tight corner ; out of the corner of one's eye ; paint oneself into a corner ; turn the corner .

Example Sentences

Despite travelling to every corner of the globe to play the sport he adores, he has never permanently left his hometown of Manacor.

From BBC

Mr Hadden added: “If my case shows anything, when it comes to rural roads, you have to be so alert when you’re on them, you have to prepare for what’s around every corner.”

From BBC

Within a few blocks of the corner where the plaintiff was hurt, about half the light poles had caps that were loose or missing, meaning they had already fallen off.

From Los Angeles Times

I ask my partner as he rounds a corner with sheep grazing on one side and a cascading waterfall on the other.

From Salon

He embodies that seething, alienated rage of people who feel like they’ve been left to rot in the dark corners of the country, unseen, unheard and hopeless for far too long.

From Salon