corner

UK: /ˈkɔː^rnə^r/ US: /ˈkɔrnɚ/ ,(kôr′nər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cor•ner /ˈkɔrnɚ/   n. [countable]

1. the place at which two lines, sides, edges, or surfaces meet;
   angle:
   a chair in the corner of the room.
2. an angle, end, side, or edge:
   a coffee table with sharp corners.
3. the point where two streets meet, or where one street bends sharply:
   I drove around the corner too fast and the car skidded.
4. an awkward or embarrassing position, esp. one from which escape is impossible;
   predicament:
   [usually: singular] I was backed into a corner by the evidence.
5. a region or part, esp. a distant part:
   The pilgrims came from every corner of the empire.
6. Business a situation in which only one person, business, etc., controls the available supply of something, such as a product or service:
   [usually: singular] a corner on the oil market.

adj. [before a noun]

7. situated on or at a corner where two streets meet:
   the corner drugstore.

v. 

8. to force into an awkward situation in which escape, refusal, etc., is difficult or impossible:
   [~ + object] The policeman cornered the crook in a back alley.
   [often: ~ + object + into + verb-ing]
   She cornered me into serving on the finance committee.
9. Business to gain control of (a stock, etc.):
   [~ + object] That country had cornered the market on oil.
10. [no object] (of an automobile) to turn, esp. at a speed relatively high for the angle of the turn.

Idioms

11. Idioms cut corners, to reduce costs, time, or effort in carrying something out by leaving out certain steps:
    looking for a way to cut corners
    .
12. just around the corner, [uncountable] near in time or place;
    close by or close to happening:
    predicted that an improvement in the economy was just around the corner.
13. turn the corner, to begin to make improvement;
    start to recover:
    The day after the operation he turned the corner and was soon sent home.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cor•ner  (kôr′nər), n. 

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, esp. 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, esp. one from which escape is impossible.
8. Business [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
    • Surveying 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. Cf. section (def. 5).
    • Surveying a stake, tree, or rock marking the intersection of property lines.
11. a piece to protect the corner of anything.
12. Sport [Baseball.]
    • any point on the line forming the left or right boundary of home plate:
      a pitch on the corner.
    • the area formed by the intersection of the foul line and the outfield fence.
13. Sport [Boxing.]
    • the immediate area formed by any of the four angles in the ring.
    • one of the two assigned corners where a boxer rests between rounds and behind which the handlers sit during a fight.
14. Sport [Soccer.] See corner kick. 
15. Idioms cut corners:
    • to use a shorter route.
    • to reduce costs or care in execution:
      cutting corners to meet the foreign competition.
16. Idioms rough corners, rude, boorish, or unsophisticated characteristics, manners, or the like:
    Despite his rough corners, he was very likable.
17. Idioms the four corners of the earth, the most distant or remote regions:
    They traveled to the four corners of the earth.
18. Idioms turn the corner, to pass through a crisis safely:
    When the fever passed, we knew he had turned the corner.

adj. 

19. situated on or at a corner where two streets meet:
    a corner drugstore.
20. Furniture made to fit or be used in a corner:
    a corner cabinet.

v.t. 

21. to furnish with corners.
22. to place in or drive into a corner.
23. to force into an awkward or difficult position or one from which escape is impossible:
    He finally cornered the thief.
24. Business to gain control of (a stock, commodity, etc.).

v.i. 

25. to meet in or be situated on or at a corner.
26. Business to form a corner in a stock or commodity.
27. (of an automobile) to turn, esp. at a speed relatively high for the angle of the turn involved.

• Latin cornū horn; compare cornu) + -er -er²
• Anglo-French, equivalent. to Old French corne corner, horn (
• Middle English 1250–1300

Synonyms

• 7. predicament, impasse, dead end.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

corner / 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. a monopoly over the supply of a commodity so that its market price can be controlled
9. 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. cut corners ⇒ to do something in the easiest and shortest way, esp at the expense of high standards
12. turn the corner ⇒ to pass the critical point (in an illness, etc)
13. (modifier) located on a corner: a corner shop

verb

1. (transitive) to manoeuvre (a person or animal) into a position from which escape is difficult or impossible
2. (transitive) to acquire enough of (a commodity) to attain control of the market
3. Also: engross to attain control of (a market) in such a manner
   Compare forestall3
4. (intransitive) (in soccer, etc) to take a corner

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French corniere, from Latin cornū point, extremity, horn

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Corner noun

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