cornerstone
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cor·ner·stone
also corner stone (kôr′nər-stōn′)n.
1.
a. A stone at the corner of a building uniting two intersecting walls; a quoin.
b. Such a stone when inscribed with the date of the start of the construction of the building.
2. An indispensable and fundamental basis: the cornerstone of an argument.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
cornerstone
(ˈkɔːnəˌstəʊn)n
1. (Building) a stone at the corner of a wall, uniting two intersecting walls; quoin
2. (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.
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
cor•ner•stone
(ˈkɔr nərˌstoʊn)n.
1. a stone uniting two masonry walls at an intersection.
2. a stone representing the nominal starting place in the construction of a monumental building, usu. carved with the date.
3. something that is essential or basic.
4. the foundation on which something is constructed or developed.
[1250–1300]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 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" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
cornerstone
noun basis, key, premise, starting point, bedrock Effective opposition is a cornerstone of any democracy.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
cornerstone
nounA fundamental principle or underlying concept:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
cornerstone
[ˈkɔːrnərstəʊn] nCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995