cornucopia

IPA/ˌkɔːnjuˈkəʊpiə/
KK[kˌɔrnəkˈopiə]IPA/ˌkɔːrnəˈkəʊpiə/

cornucopia — noun

  • cornucopiasingular
  • cornucopiasplural

1. in art and decoration, a horn-shaped basket filled with fruits, flowers, and gra

1.nounC1
Definition

in art and decoration, a horn-shaped basket filled with fruits, flowers, and grains that represents wealth, a good harvest, or plenty — originally from ancient Greek and Roman stories about a magical horn that could provide endless food.

Example

The autumn festival centrepiece was a cornucopia overflowing with apples, pears, and pumpkins.

literal horn-shaped basket filled with fruit

In the museum painting, a golden cornucopia sits beside the harvest goddess Demeter.

Common collocations
  • cornucopia overflowing with
  • cornucopia filled with
  • cornucopia of fruit
Synonyms
  • horn of plenty

    the exact English name for the same object, more common in historical writing

  • receptacle

    a broader term for any container, without the abundance symbolism

Grammar Patterns

cornucopia + of + [plural noun]

Common Mistakes

The cornucopia in the art museum has a goat horn shape
The cornucopia in the art museum is shaped like a goat's horn.
'has a goat horn shape' uses the wrong count-noun structure.

2. a very large collection or supply of good, pleasant, or useful things — for exam

2.nounC1
Definition

a very large collection or supply of good, pleasant, or useful things — for example, a market that offers a cornucopia of fresh food, or a book that contains a cornucopia of useful advice.

Example

The public library offers a cornucopia of books, films, and online resources to residents.

cornucopia of + plural nouns (books, films, resources)

Haruto bought a cornucopia of fresh herbs and vegetables at a weekend market in Taipei.

Common collocations
  • cornucopia of goods
  • cornucopia of ideas
  • cornucopia of options
  • offer a cornucopia
  • provide a cornucopia
Synonyms
  • abundance

    uncountable noun meaning the same idea of plenty, but does not create the same vivid image

  • wealth

    stresses valuable or desirable things, often in a formal context

  • profusion

    emphasises a very large quantity, especially of things growing or spread out

  • plethora

    often suggests an excessive or overwhelming amount, which cornucopia does not

Antonyms
  • scarcity

    the condition of not having enough of something

  • dearth

    formal word for a lack or insufficient supply

Grammar Patterns

cornucopia + of + [noun phrase]

Usage Note

This sense is always used with a following 'of' phrase that names the things in the collection. The subject is often a place, event, or source (library, market, festival, book).

Common Mistakes

There is cornucopia of food
There is a cornucopia of food.
The noun is countable and always takes an article.
The museum had cornucopia of ancient art.
The museum had a cornucopia of ancient art.
Same rule: 'cornucopia' needs 'a' or 'the' before it.

Word family

  • cornucopian
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe a large quantity, but they differ in connotation and typical contexts. 'Abundance' is the most neutral and general — it simply means more than enough of something ('an abundance of fresh water'). 'Wealth' adds the idea that the things are valuable or desirable ('a wealth of historical documents'), and carries a more formal tone. 'Profusion' emphasises something growing or spreading in great number, often with a visual sense of lushness ('a profusion of wildflowers'). 'Plethora' is the trickiest — it originally meant an excess and still often suggests too many of something ('a plethora of online streaming services'), whereas 'cornucopia' always has a positive connotation of welcome plenty. For a warm, enthusiastic description of many good things, 'cornucopia' or 'wealth' work best. For a neutral statement of quantity, use 'abundance'. Avoid 'plethora' when you mean 'a wonderful variety' since it can sound critical.

abundance ↗wealth ↗profusionplethora ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • offer a cornucopia
  • provide a cornucopia
  • contain a cornucopia
  • become a cornucopia
  • a cornucopia of food
  • a cornucopia of ideas
  • a cornucopia of resources

Phrases

  • a cornucopia of goods
  • a veritable cornucopia

Prepositions

  • cornucopia of

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'cornucopia' comes directly from Latin. 'Cornu' means 'horn' and 'copia' means 'plenty' — so cornucopia literally means 'horn of plenty'. In ancient Greek myth, the infant god Zeus was cared for by a goat named Amalthea, whose horn could provide endless food and drink. Later Roman writers turned this story into the symbol of a horn overflowing with fruit, which we still use today both as a real decorative object and as a metaphor for any generous supply of good things.

First known use

1508

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1