corn-picker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Agricultural / Regional
Quick answer
What does “corn-picker” mean?
A person or, more commonly, a machine that harvests maize (corn).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or, more commonly, a machine that harvests maize (corn).
Can refer to a farmhand specializing in the corn harvest or, metaphorically, to someone who efficiently gathers or selects things.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the US, it specifically refers to a maize harvester. In the UK, 'corn' can mean wheat or other grain, so 'corn-picker' is a less common, more ambiguous term unless context clarifies it refers to maize.
Connotations
Both regions: rural, manual or mechanical labor. US: strongly associated with the Midwest and large-scale agriculture.
Frequency
More frequent in US English, particularly in agricultural regions. Rare in general UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “corn-picker” in a Sentence
[The/Our] corn-picker [verb: broke, harvested, chugged]to [verb: operate, fix, use] a corn-pickerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corn-picker” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- He had a corn-picker's hands, rough and strong.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agricultural machinery sales and farming operations.
Academic
Used in agricultural engineering or historical studies of farming.
Everyday
Rare in urban settings; used in farming communities.
Technical
Precise term for a specific type of harvesting combine or mechanical picker.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corn-picker”
- Confusing 'corn-picker' (machine/person) with 'corncob picker' (a tool for eating).
- Using it as a general term for any harvester (e.g., for wheat).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A corn-picker is often a specific attachment or a machine designed primarily for maize (corn). A combine harvester is a more general machine that can harvest various grains, sometimes with a special 'corn head' attachment.
Yes, though it's less common today. It can refer to a farm worker who picks corn by hand or operates the picking machine.
It is understood but is far less common than in American English. In the UK, 'maize harvester' or simply 'harvester' would be more typical technical terms.
'To pick corn' often implies the specific action of removing the ears from the stalk, especially by hand. 'To harvest corn' is a broader term encompassing the entire process of gathering the crop, often by machine.
A person or, more commonly, a machine that harvests maize (corn).
Corn-picker is usually technical / agricultural / regional in register.
Corn-picker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːn ˌpɪk.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːrn ˌpɪk.ər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rare] To work like a corn-picker: to work very hard, especially in a repetitive, gathering task.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a giant bird PECKing (sounds like 'pick') at CORN in a field – a 'corn-pecker' becomes a 'corn-picker'.
Conceptual Metaphor
HARVESTING IS GATHERING / EFFICIENCY IS A MACHINE. (e.g., 'He's a human corn-picker at the data entry job.').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'corn-picker' MOST likely to be used?