cornerstone
cornerstone
Definition
corner·stone (-stōn′)
noun
- a stone that forms part of the corner of a building; esp., a foundation stone of this kind, often inscribed, laid at a ceremony that marks the beginning of building
- the basic, essential, or most important part; foundation
Etymology: ME
cornerstone
Synonyms
cornerstone
Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- non-proliferation: We emphasize that the NPT remains the cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation.
- stability: Should the very cornerstone of strategic stability become eroded, we will have a big problem of putting things in check in this area.
- democracy: Elections may well be the cornerstone of any democracy - therein lies the rub.
- broadcasting: We emphatically agree that ' The BBC should remain the cornerstone of public service television broadcasting.
- regime: The NPT is the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, supported by almost every country in the world.
- society: Access to justice is a cornerstone of a fair society.
Converse of object
- remain: Over four decades later, their principles remain the cornerstone of every home we build.
- lay: The first chapter lays a solid cornerstone to the framework of the book.
- become: They have become a cornerstone of the Chamber's activity.
- form: Their world-famous carpets form a rich cornerstone to any home interior.
- represent: It represents a cornerstone of our commitment to improving Working Lives.
- consider: This means that surgery is still to be considered the cornerstone of therapy for the groin nodes in women with vulvar cancer.
Adjective modifier
- chief: He is the Builder, he is the head, he is the chief cornerstone, he is the living Stone.
- fundamental: Acknowledging the presence of some rare fragile populations of native trout could act as a fundamental cornerstone in this reform.
- vital: You don't have to be Einstein, Newton or Socrates to know that education is a vital cornerstone in our modern lives.
- essential: A wealth of new information and updated coverage makes the 8th Edition an essential cornerstone for every psychiatric practice.
- cultural: At the cultural cornerstone of this new, dynamic town-centre hub will be our very own, purpose-built DanceHouse.
- important: This guidance often formed an important cornerstone of a school's approach.
Modifies a noun
Browse dictionary entries near cornerstone
- cornermen
- cornerman
- cornering the market
- cornered
- cornerback
- corner kick
- corner
- corneous
- Cornell
- Cornelius
- cornerways
- cornerwise
- cornet
- cornet-à-pistons
- cornetist
- cornets-à-pistons
- cornettist
- cornfed
- cornfield
- cornflakes
