Cornwall

IPA/ˈkɔːn.wəl/
KK[kˈɔrnwɔl]IPA/ˈkɔːrn.wɔːl/

Cornwall — noun

1. a historic area that is governed as a county in the far southwest of Great Brita

1.nounB1
Definition

a historic area that is governed as a county in the far southwest of Great Britain, famous for its long coastline, sandy beaches, pasty-filled bakeries, and mild climate

Example

Last summer, Tuan and his family rented a cottage in Cornwall near the town of St Ives.

preposition: in Cornwall

Cornwall is well known for its cream teas, which include scones with jam and clotted cream.

Common collocations
  • in Cornwall
  • the coast of Cornwall
  • to Cornwall
  • from Cornwall
  • the county of Cornwall

Common Mistakes

I visited the Cornwall last month.
I visited Cornwall last month.
Place names like Cornwall do not take the definite article unless part of a compound name such as 'the county of Cornwall.'

2. a small city in the province of Ontario, Canada, built along the north shore of

2.nounB2
Definition

a small city in the province of Ontario, Canada, built along the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River near the border with the United States

Example

Kwame works at the community college in Cornwall and teaches English to new immigrants.

preposition: in Cornwall

The Saint Lawrence Seaway runs past Cornwall, allowing ships to travel between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.

Common collocations
  • in Cornwall
  • the city of Cornwall
  • from Cornwall
  • to Cornwall

Usage Note

This Canadian city has the same spelling as the English county but is a completely different place; context usually makes the reference clear.

Common Mistakes

Cornwall, Ontario is in the United States.
Cornwall, Ontario is in Canada.
The Canadian city is near the US border but lies inside Canada.

3. an area in southwestern England that was once a separate county with its own loc

3.nounC1
Definition

an area in southwestern England that was once a separate county with its own local administration and court system, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tamar, and centred on the city of Truro

Example

Before local government reorganisation in 1974, Ryo's grandparents lived in the historic county of Cornwall.

historic county of Cornwall

Historians study records from the former county of Cornwall to trace the region's tin mining past.

former county of Cornwall

Common collocations
  • historic county of Cornwall
  • former county of Cornwall
  • Duchy of Cornwall

Usage Note

This sense refers to the area's historical boundaries before local government changes in 1974. Present-day Cornwall is a unitary authority area that largely matches the historic county.

Word family

  • Cornish
    adjectiveB2
  • Cornish
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Cornwall and Devon are neighbouring counties in southwestern England. Cornwall is the westernmost region, separated from Devon by the River Tamar. Cornwall has its own distinct cultural identity, including the Cornish language and a heritage of tin mining, whereas Devon is known for Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks. Kernow is the Cornish-language name for Cornwall and carries a strong cultural and national significance for Cornish speakers; it is rarely used in everyday English. In casual conversation, saying 'Cornwall' is always correct; 'Devon' refers to a different county with its own traditions; and 'Kernow' is used mostly in emblematic or political contexts by people who identify with Cornish nationalism.

Cornwall ↗Devon ↗Kernow

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the coast of Cornwall
  • the county of Cornwall
  • the Duchy of Cornwall

Prepositions

Etymology

CelticOld EnglishEnglish

Cornwall comes from the Old English name Cornwealas, which combines Corn- (from the Celtic tribal name Cornovii, meaning 'peninsula people') and wealas (meaning 'foreigners' or 'Welsh people', the Anglo-Saxon term for the native Britons). The name therefore originally meant 'the Britons of the peninsula'. The Cornish name for the area, Kernow, is still used today as an emblem of regional identity.