cornerstone

/ˈkɔːnəstəʊn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɔːrnərstəʊn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkȯr-nər-ˌstōn/ (ame, mw)

cornerstone — 名詞

  • cornerstonesingular
  • cornerstonesplural

1. Something so essential that an entire system, organisation, or way of thinking c

1.名詞B2
釋義

根基；支柱

組織或體系中最根本、最重要的部分

Something so essential that an entire system, organisation, or way of thinking cannot function or survive without it.

例句

Trust between team members is the cornerstone of any successful project.

團隊成員之間的信任是任何成功專案的根基。

pattern: cornerstone + of + noun phrase

For Valentina, mutual respect was the cornerstone of her relationship with her partner.

對 Valentina 來說，互相尊重是她與伴侶維持關係的根基。

同義詞
  • foundation

    more general; can be the base of anything physical or abstract

  • bedrock

    emphasises that the thing is fixed and unchanging; stronger than cornerstone

  • basis

    less emphatic; refers to a starting point rather than an essential support

文法句型

cornerstone + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Unlike the literal building-stone sense (sense 2), this sense never refers to a physical object. It is almost always followed by 'of' and an abstract noun phrase (e.g. 'cornerstone of democracy').

常見錯誤

❌Education is the corner stone of society.
✅Education is the cornerstone of society.
💡'cornerstone' is one word in both literal and figurative meanings.

2. The first stone set in place at the base of a new building, usually at an outer

2.名詞B2
釋義

基石

建築物角落的第一塊石頭

The first stone set in place at the base of a new building, usually at an outer corner. It often has the building's completion date carved into it and is formally placed during a ceremony.

例句

The mayor placed the cornerstone of the new library during the opening ceremony.

市長在新建圖書館的奠基儀式上安放了基石。

collocation: placed + cornerstone

Each cornerstone was carved with the date and the name of the building's architect.

每塊基石上都刻有建造日期和建築師的姓名。

同義詞
  • foundation stone

    more common in British English for the same ceremonial object

  • keystone

    technically a different architectural element — the top centre stone of an arch, not the base

文法句型

cornerstone + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often used in the phrase 'lay the cornerstone' to describe the formal ceremony that marks the start of construction.

常見錯誤

❌The building's corner stone was laid in 1999.
✅The building's cornerstone was laid in 1999.
💡'cornerstone' is a single compound word, not two separate words.