noun
husk
huhsk
noun
1
The dry outer covering of certain fruits, seeds, or vegetables, such as corn.
"She peeled back the husk to check if the corn was ripe."
2
Any dried-up, hollow, or worthless outer shell of something.
"After the fire, only a husk of the old building remained."
verb
1
To remove the husk from something.
"They spent the afternoon husking corn on the porch."
How to Use Husk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe outer covering of certain crops, or figuratively, an empty shell of something that used to have substance.
Common pairings
husk of corn
husk a crop
a mere husk
Word Forms
husked past tense, husked past tense, husks plural, Husks plural, husks singular, husks singular
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Etymology
From Middle English huske, likely related to an Old English word for a small covering or sheath.