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Definition of husk

husk

/hʌsk/
husk
Adverb:huskily
•
Plural:husks
•
Adjective:husky
•
Past Simple:husked
•
Past Participle:husked
•
Present Participle:husking
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husk Lexical Profile

husk Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The dry outer covering of certain fruits, nuts, or seeds, especially the leafy outer sheath of an ear of corn.

Example

"We peeled back the green husk to reveal the rows of yellow corn kernels."

2

A lifeless, empty, or worthless shell or remnant of a person or thing.

Example

"After years of neglect, the once-bustling factory stood as a hollow husk of rusted steel and broken glass."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for husk
Antonyms
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• verb

1

To remove the dry outer covering from a seed, fruit, or ear of corn.

Example

"The children sat on the porch and helped husk the sweet corn for dinner."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for husk

• Rhymes for husk

• Nearby Words

hushabye
hushed
hushpuppy
husk
husker
huskily
huskiness

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in late Middle English, the word is likely borrowed from Middle Low German 'huske', meaning 'case, core of a fruit, or sheath', which is a diminutive form of 'hus' (house).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Husk. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/husk
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