corner

n. & v.
—n.
1 a place where converging sides or edges meet.
2 a projecting angle, esp. where two streets meet.
3 the internal space or recess formed by the meeting of two sides, esp. of a room.
4 a difficult position, esp. one from which there is no escape (driven into a corner).
5 a secluded or remote place.
6 a region or quarter, esp. a remote one (from the four corners of the earth).
7 the action or result of buying or controlling the whole available stock of a commodity, thereby dominating the market.
8 Boxing & Wrestling a an angle of the ring, esp. one where a contestant rests between rounds. b a contestant's supporters offering assistance at the corner between rounds.
9 Football & Hockey a free kick or hit from a corner of the pitch after the ball has been kicked over the goal-line by a defending player.
10 a triangular cut of gammon or ham.
—v.
1 tr. force (a person or animal) into a difficult or inescapable position.
2 tr. a establish a corner in (a commodity). b dominate (dealers or the market) in this way.
3 intr. (esp. of or in a vehicle) go round a corner.
Phrases and idioms:
corner shop a small local shop, esp. at a street corner. just round (or around) the corner colloq. very near, imminent.
Etymology: ME f. AF ult. f. L cornu horn