cornerstone

noun
UK: /ˈkɔːnəstəʊn/
US: /ˈkɔːrnərstoʊn/

  1. A fundamental and essential element; the basis of something.

    1. Trust is the cornerstone of any good relationship.
    2. Honesty and transparency are the cornerstones of our company's values in every action.

  2. A stone at the corner of a building, often ceremonially laid, representing the start of construction.

    1. The cornerstone was laid by the mayor.
    2. They placed the cornerstone engraved with the date of the building's construction.

Synonyms

bedrock basis principle keystone foundation
cornerstone transitive-verb

  1. To be the essential part of something.

    1. This idea cornerstones their success.
    2. Teamwork cornerstones the entire project and its ability to be completed on time.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "cornerstone" in English means: A fundamental and essential element; the basis of something., A stone at the corner of a building, often ceremonially laid, representing the start of construction..

The phonetic transcription of "cornerstone" is /ˈkɔːnəstəʊn/ in British English and /ˈkɔːrnərstoʊn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "cornerstone": bedrock, basis, principle, keystone, foundation.

Example usage of "cornerstone": "Trust is the cornerstone of any good relationship.". More examples on the page.