seed corn

American  

noun

1. ears or kernels of corn set apart as seed.

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seed corn British  

noun

1. the good quality ears or kernels of corn that are used as seed

2. assets or investments that are expected to provide profits in the future

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Etymology

Origin of seed corn

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

And when you eat your seed corn, you have nothing left to plant next year.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2023

Mexico was where corn was first domesticated starting around 9,000 years ago, and in order to protect its native varieties, the country will still ban imports of GM seed corn.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2023

“It proves the adage that basic science is the seed corn of societal impact.”

From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2021

The complaint’s single heartening finding is that AltEn was the only ethanol plant in Nebraska and one of the two plants in the country using treated seed corn as an ethanol feedstock.

From Washington Times • Mar. 8, 2021

Luke made it over to Jen’s only once in all of February, and twice in March, when Dad began driving around looking for the best seed corn prices.

From "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix