Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Zea mays indurata

Zea mays indurata

9.9
A type of corn with hard outer kernels often ground to make cornmeal
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : maíz duro
  • Thanks to its hard kernels, Zea mays indurata is often ground to make hominy or cornmeal.

Examples

  • The decorative multicolored ears sold in autumn are usually Zea mays indurata rather than sweet corn.

  • Did you know that Zea mays indurata is also called flint corn?

  • Farmers in the region often plant Zea mays indurata because it resists spoilage better than other corn varieties.

  • Farmers in the Midwest often grow Zea mays indurata for its durability.

  • Farmers in the region often plant Zea mays indurata because it resists spoilage better than other corn varieties.

  • Thanks to its hard kernels, Zea mays indurata is often ground to make hominy or cornmeal.

  • The decorative multicolored ears sold in autumn are usually Zea mays indurata rather than sweet corn.

Synonyms

Indian corn
vsZea mays indurata
  • US
1 4.2

A type of corn with hard kernels in many colors used for decoration or food

focuses on kernel structure rather than color or decorative use
flint maize
vsZea mays indurata
  • Specialized
7.9

A type of corn with a hard outer layer and a soft inside

is the same variety but named differently in common usage
flint corn
vsZea mays indurata
  • Specialized
8.1

A type of corn with hard outer kernels and a soft inside used for food or decoration

is the botanical variety focusing on kernel structure not use
Yankee corn
vsZea mays indurata
  • US
9.3

A type of corn with hard outer kernel and softer inner part

is the scientific variety name rather than a regional or colloquial term

Surface Forms

Zea mays indurata singular
Zea mays induratas plural

Morphology

Zea + mays + indurata

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species/varietal epithet) that is compositionally informative: if a learner knows 'Zea' = maize and understands 'indurata' as 'hardened' (indurate), they can infer a hardened/ flint variety of maize. However, the constituents are Latin taxonomic forms rather than everyday English words and two constituents are not ordinary lexical items for a B1 learner, so the meaning is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Zea mays indurata comes from Latin words: Zea mays means corn and indurata comes from a word meaning 'hardened'. So the name gives the image of corn with a hard outer shell on each kernel, which is why it refers to 'flint corn', a corn with very hard kernels used for food and decoration.