cornerstone
UK /ˈkɔː.nə.stəʊn/ · US /ˈkɔɹ.nɚ.stoʊn/ noun
Forms cornerstones corner stone
- noun A stone forming the base at the corner of a building.
- noun Such a stone used ceremonially, often inscribed with the architect's and owner's names, dates and other details. “The cornerstone on the Flatiron Building is set on the Fifth Avenue facade.”
- noun (figuratively) That which is prominent, fundamental, noteworthy, or central. “Exceptional service is the cornerstone of the hospitality industry.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English corner ston; equivalent to corner + stone. The figurative sense is in part after Psalm 118:22, and is also quoted several times in the New Testament.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “cornerstone”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details