noun
cob
kob
noun
1
The central core of an ear of corn, left over once the kernels are removed.
"She gnawed the last few kernels off the corn cob."
"Save the cobs for the compost bin."
2
A short, thickset horse with a sturdy build, often used for riding.
"The farmer rode a stout little cob to market."
3
A rounded loaf of bread.
"He picked up a fresh cob from the bakery."
How to Use Cob
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often the woody core left after you strip the kernels off an ear of corn, but also used for a stocky horse or a round loaf of bread.
Common pairings
corn on the cob
a cob loaf
a sturdy cob
Word Forms
cobbed past tense, cobbed past tense, cobs plural, cobs singular, cobs singular
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She gnawed the last few kernels off the corn _____.
Etymology
A very old word of uncertain origin, applied over the centuries to lots of round or lumpy things — corn cobs, stocky horses, round loaves, even a male swan.