[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/cob/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [C](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/c/) / cob

# cob

noun (a cob, cobs; cob — building material, uncountable)

«cob» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A cob, or corncob, is the long middle part of an ear of corn (maize) that the kernels grow on: corn on the cob. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#m1)
2. A cob is a male swan (a female is a pen, a baby is a cygnet). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#m2)
3. (UK) A cob is a small round loaf of bread, or in some areas a bread roll. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#m3)
4. A cob is a strong, short-legged horse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#m4)
5. Cob is a mix of clay, straw and water used to build walls of old houses. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#m5)

### In the lessons

In science lessons, «cob» is the word for a male swan. In food and farming lessons, corn on the cob is sweetcorn cooked whole. In parts of England (the Midlands, the North) «a cob» is a bread roll — the word is part of a famous regional argument (bap, barm, batch, cob, roll, bun). In history and design, cob cottages in Devon have thick earth walls. Phrases: «corn on the cob», «cob loaf», «cob and pen».

### Examples

- We ate buttery corn on the cob at the barbecue. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#x1)
- The cob swan hissed to protect the cygnets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#x2)
- (UK, Midlands) Can I have a cheese cob, please? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#x3)
- The farmer rode a sturdy cob. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#x4)
- Old Devon cottages are made of cob. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#x5)
- The baker sold a big round cob loaf. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#x6)
- De pig dat runs off wid de year er corn gits little mo' dan de cob. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/#x7)

### Note

Plural «cobs». The meaning depends on where you are and what you are talking about: swans, corn, bread, horses or walls. Swans: cob = male, pen = female, cygnet = young.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «cob» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cob/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«cob» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cob.html) on Mova free.