cor·ner·stone also corner stone (kôr n r-st n )n. 1. a. A stone at the corner of a building uniting two intersecting walls; a quoin. b. Such a stone, often inscribed, laid at a ceremony marking the origin of a building. 2. An indispensable and fundamental basis: the cornerstone of an argument. |
cornerstone [ˈkɔːnəˌstəʊn]
n
1. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Building) a stone at the corner of a wall, uniting two intersecting walls; quoin
2. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Building) a stone placed at the corner of a building during a ceremony to mark the start of construction
3. a person or thing of prime importance; basis the cornerstone of the whole argument
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | cornerstone - the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained; "the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture" explanation - thought that makes something comprehensible meat and potatoes - the fundamental part; "successful negotiation is the meat and potatoes of arbitration" supposal, supposition, assumption - a hypothesis that is taken for granted; "any society is built upon certain assumptions" |
| 2. | cornerstone - a stone in the exterior of a large and important building; usually carved with a date and laid with appropriate ceremonies building, edifice - a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it was an imposing edifice" stone - building material consisting of a piece of rock hewn in a definite shape for a special purpose; "he wanted a special stone to mark the site" | |
| 3. | cornerstone - a stone at the outer corner of two intersecting masonry walls building, edifice - a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it was an imposing edifice" stone - building material consisting of a piece of rock hewn in a definite shape for a special purpose; "he wanted a special stone to mark the site" |
cornerstone
noun basis, key, premise, starting point, bedrock Effective opposition is a cornerstone of any democracy.
Translations
cornerstone [ˈkɔːnəˌstəʊn] n (also) (fig) → pietra angolare
cornerstone [ˈkɔːnəˌstəʊn] n (also) (fig) → pietra angolare
cornerstone [ˈkɔːnəˌstəʊn] n (also) (fig) → pietra angolare
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|