corner
corner — noun
1. the point or place where two lines, edges, walls, or roads come together, formin
the point or place where two lines, edges, walls, or roads come together, forming an angle.
The bakery is on the corner of Main Street and Park Avenue.
preposition pattern: on the corner of [street A] and [street B]
Arjun bumped his knee against the corner of the coffee table.
A small lamp sat in the corner of the living room.
The bus slows down every time it approaches a sharp corner.
Fold the paper so that the two corners meet exactly.
常見錯誤
2. a secluded or distant section within a bigger place, especially one that is not
a secluded or distant section within a bigger place, especially one that is not often seen or visited.
The temple sits in a quiet corner of the old city.
quiet corner of [place]
Élise found a shady corner of the park to read her book.
The war reached even the most remote corners of the country.
Chidi collects stamps from every corner of the world.
We found a hidden corner of the beach that tourists never visit.
- nook
cozier, more sheltered, often implies a small recess or alcove
- remote area
more formal; emphasises distance rather than quietness
- faraway place
less precise; suggests emotional distance as well as physical
用法筆記
Often used in the pattern 'every corner of [place]' to mean 'every part of'.
3. in football (soccer) and hockey, a set piece delivered from one of the field's c
in football (soccer) and hockey, a set piece delivered from one of the field's corners to resume play after the defending side caused the ball to cross its own goal line.
United scored from a corner in the final minute of the match.
The referee awarded a corner after the defender touched the ball last.
passive: awarded a corner
Renata took the corner, and the striker headed the ball into the net.
Their team has a tall player who is dangerous at corners.
- corner kick
the full term used in football
- penalty corner
the hockey equivalent
用法筆記
Also called a 'corner kick' in football. In hockey it is called a 'corner hit' or 'penalty corner'. Not used in American football or basketball.
常見錯誤
4. either first base or third base — the two bases that sit at the outer ends of th
either first base or third base — the two bases that sit at the outer ends of the infield in baseball.
The runner on first was picked off by the pitcher.
Good teams need strong players at both corner positions.
collocation: corner positions in baseball
Lakshmi played third base and handled every ground ball cleanly.
The coach moved the shortstop to a corner position for better reach.
用法筆記
Typically used in the phrases 'corner infielder' (first or third baseman) or 'corner base.' Not used for second base.
5. one of the four posts and the area around it in a boxing ring; also used to refe
one of the four posts and the area around it in a boxing ring; also used to refer to the trainers and assistants who support a boxer between rounds.
The boxer returned to his corner after the bell rang.
Her corner threw in the towel to stop the fight in the eighth round.
possessive: [person]'s corner = their team of supporters
The trainer climbed into the ring and gave instructions from the corner.
Between rounds, the corner man wiped the boxer's face with a cold towel.
用法筆記
When used to mean 'supporters' — 'her corner' — it extends figuratively to any situation where someone backs a person (see idiom 'in someone's corner').
6. a situation in which it is very hard to escape or find a good solution.
a situation in which it is very hard to escape or find a good solution.
After losing his job and his home, Brian felt he was in a corner.
in a corner = in a difficult position
The government is in a tight corner over rising housing costs.
tight corner = especially difficult situation
Their dishonest deals have painted them into a corner.
The company found itself in a corner when the supplier suddenly quit.
- predicament
more formal; can imply a difficult choice rather than trapped
- pickle
informal; suggests a mildly embarrassing or humorous difficulty
- fix
informal; 'in a fix' is lighter than 'in a corner'
用法筆記
Frequently appears in fixed expressions: 'in a tight corner', 'paint oneself into a corner', 'back someone into a corner'. The verb 'corner' (verb sense 2) describes the action of forcing someone into this situation.
常見錯誤
7. a situation where a person or company controls enough of a product or resource t
a situation where a person or company controls enough of a product or resource to influence its price.
The investor tried to get a corner on the wheat market.
get/have a corner on the [commodity] market
The company has a corner on the supply of rare minerals used in electronics.
The government stepped in when traders tried to establish a corner on rice.
A small group of investors nearly gained a corner on the cocoa trade that year.
- monopoly
stronger; implies exclusive control, while 'a corner' means dominant but not necessarily complete control
- stranglehold
more forceful; suggests the control is harmful or unfair
- free market
a market with no single dominant player
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'have/get a corner on [something].' Related to verb sense 3 (corner the market).
corner — verb
1. to go around a bend in a road, especially in a vehicle; also describes how a veh
to go around a bend in a road, especially in a vehicle; also describes how a vehicle handles this movement, such as smoothly or with difficulty.
This sports car corners beautifully even on wet roads.
corner + adverb of manner (beautifully, smoothly, badly)
The truck cornered slowly because it was carrying a heavy load.
Bao's bicycle cornered sharply, throwing gravel into the air.
The driver took the bend too fast and the vehicle did not corner safely.
- turn
more general; 'corner' specifically suggests going around a bend at speed
文法句型
corner + adverb of manner
用法筆記
Almost always used with an adverb or adverbial phrase describing the quality of the turn. The subject is the vehicle, not the driver.
常見錯誤
2. to trap someone or something by blocking their way out, leaving them with no goo
to trap someone or something by blocking their way out, leaving them with no good options for escape.
The police cornered the suspect in an alley behind the station.
cornered + in [location]
The cat was cornered by three aggressive dogs near the fence.
passive: be cornered by [someone/something]
Charlotte cornered her professor after class to ask about the assignment.
The protesters felt cornered by the new laws that limited their rights.
Kian cornered the thief in the basement and held him until help arrived.
文法句型
corner + object
be cornered + preposition (in, into, against)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive (be/get cornered). The figurative use ('cornered by criticism', 'cornered by questions') is common in journalism and business.
常見錯誤
3. to gain control of the supply of a particular product or service so that you can
to gain control of the supply of a particular product or service so that you can set its price.
One tech company has cornered the market on smartphone chips.
corner the market on [product]
A group of traders tried to corner the silver market by buying up the entire supply.
The brand has almost cornered the luxury handbag market in Asia.
The entire cocoa market was cornered by a single cartel.
- monopolise
stronger; implies complete control rather than dominant control
- dominate
broader; can refer to market share without implying price control
- compete
to participate in a market without controlling it
文法句型
corner + the market + on [product]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed expression 'corner the market'. When used without 'the market', it refers to noun sense 7 (have a corner on).
常見錯誤
corner — adjective
1. located at or near the place where two lines, walls, or streets meet.
located at or near the place where two lines, walls, or streets meet.
The corner shop sells newspapers and cold drinks.
corner shop = small shop on a street corner
Eric and Brooke bought a corner apartment with windows on two sides.
The corner table by the window is the best spot in the restaurant.
We met at our usual corner cafe on Saturday morning.
The corner office on the top floor has a great view of the river.
- on the corner
a prepositional phrase used predicatively; 'corner' is only attributive
用法筆記
Used only attributively (before a noun). You cannot say 'the office is corner' — use 'on the corner' instead.
常見錯誤
2. designed or intended to be placed in or around the angle where two surfaces meet
designed or intended to be placed in or around the angle where two surfaces meet.
We bought a corner shelf to hold small plants in the study.
The corner sofa fits perfectly into the alcove of the living room.
Reema installed corner guards on the kitchen counter to protect the edges.
A corner cabinet uses space that would otherwise be wasted.
- L-shaped
describes shape rather than intended placement
用法筆記
Used for objects whose shape or purpose is specifically for corners. More common in home design and construction contexts.