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cornerstone

cor·ner·stone
C c

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [kawr-ner-stohn]
    • /ˈkɔr nərˌstoʊn/
    • /ˈkɔː.nə.stəʊn/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kawr-ner-stohn]
    • /ˈkɔr nərˌstoʊn/

Definitions of cornerstone word

  • countable noun cornerstone The cornerstone of something is the basic part of it on which its existence, success, or truth depends. 3
  • noun cornerstone a stone at the corner of a wall, uniting two intersecting walls; quoin 3
  • noun cornerstone a stone placed at the corner of a building during a ceremony to mark the start of construction 3
  • noun cornerstone a person or thing of prime importance; basis 3
  • noun cornerstone a stone that forms part of the corner of a building; esp., a foundation stone of this kind, often inscribed, laid at a ceremony that marks the beginning of building 3
  • noun cornerstone the basic, essential, or most important part; foundation 3

Information block about the term

Origin of cornerstone

First appearance:

before 1250
One of the 11% oldest English words
Middle English word dating back to 1250-1300; See origin at corner, stone

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Cornerstone

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

cornerstone popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 77% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

cornerstone usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for cornerstone

noun cornerstone

  • mainstay — Nautical. the stay that secures the mainmast forward.
  • foundation — the basis or groundwork of anything: the moral foundation of both society and religion.
  • pillar — an upright shaft or structure, of stone, brick, or other material, relatively slender in proportion to its height, and of any shape in section, used as a building support, or standing alone, as for a monument: Gothic pillars; a pillar to commemorate Columbus.
  • keystone — the wedge-shaped piece at the summit of an arch, regarded as holding the other pieces in place.
  • base — The base of something is its lowest edge or part.

Top questions with cornerstone

  • what is a cornerstone?
  • what does cornerstone mean?
  • what is cornerstone?
  • what is the cornerstone of sustainment?
  • when was the white house cornerstone laid?
  • what colleges accept cornerstone christian correspondence diploma?

See also

Matching words

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