View synonyms for corm

corm

[ kawrm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Botany.

an enlarged, fleshy, bulblike base of a stem, as in the crocus.

corm

/ kɔːm /

noun

See bulb
an organ of vegetative reproduction in plants such as the crocus, consisting of a globular stem base swollen with food and surrounded by papery scale leaves Compare bulb

corm

/ kôrm /

A fleshy underground stem that is similar to a bulb but stores its food as stem tissue and has fewer and thinner leaflike scales. The crocus and gladiolus produce new shoots from corms.
Compare bulb

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Derived Forms

ˈcormous, adjective

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Other Words From

cormlike adjective
cormoid adjective
cormous adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of corm¹

1820–30; < New Latin cormus < Greek kormós a tree trunk with boughs lopped off, akin to keírein to cut off, hew

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Word History and Origins

Origin of corm¹

C19: from New Latin cormus, from Greek kormos tree trunk from which the branches have been lopped

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Example Sentences

Then cut off each stalk about two inches from its junction with the corm.

From Project Gutenberg

It has acrid properties, but its corm yields a starch which is known by the name of Portland sago or arrowroot.

From Project Gutenberg

They tend to rise out of the ground, because the new bulb or corm forms on the top of the old one.

From Project Gutenberg

Compare again the corm of Crocus and the bulb of Onion to find the stem in each.

From Project Gutenberg

The corm of Cyclamen goes on to enlarge and to produce a succession of flowers and leaves year after year.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

corn

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