ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cone

n. · v.
US //ˈkoʊn// UK //kˈəʊn// cone
  1. 1 geometric shape (n.)
    A2 Elementary Math

    a solid shape with a round base and a pointed top.

    a three-dimensional geometric solid that tapers smoothly from a flat, usually circular base to a point called the apex.

    Example

    The children learned how to calculate the volume of a cone in math class.

    Example

    The architect incorporated a glass cone into the roof design to allow natural light to filter down into the central atrium.

  2. 2 ice cream holder (n.)
    A2 Elementary Cooking

    a thin, crisp wafer shaped like a cone that you hold ice cream in.

    a conical wafer, typically made of a flour-based batter, used as a handheld container for servings of ice cream.

    Example

    She bought a double-scoop chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone.

    Example

    The vendor offered a variety of artisanal cones, ranging from traditional sugar wafers to gluten-free chocolate-dipped options.
  3. 3 traffic marker (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    an orange plastic object used to mark areas on a road.

    a cone-shaped marker, usually made of bright orange plastic, used to redirect road traffic or warn of hazards.

    Example

    The workers placed a row of cones around the hole in the street.

    Example

    The highway patrol deployed several reflective cones to delineate the temporary lane closure following the minor collision.
  4. 4 eye cell (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    a tiny part of your eye that helps you see colors.

    a type of photoreceptor cell in the retina of the eye that is responsible for color vision and visual acuity in bright light.

    Example

    Humans have three types of cones in their eyes to detect different colors.

    Example

    Color blindness often results from a genetic deficiency in one or more types of retinal cones, limiting the individual's ability to distinguish specific wavelengths.
    • photoreceptor
  5. 5 plant part (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    the hard, scaly fruit of a tree like a pine or fir.

    the dry, woody reproductive organ of a gymnosperm, such as a pine or fir tree, consisting of overlapping scales.

    Example

    The ground was covered with pine cones after the autumn storm.

    Example

    The botanist explained that the female cones are typically larger and woodier than the pollen-producing male cones found on the same branch.
    • strobile
  6. 6 to mark with cones (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to put traffic cones around an area to keep people out.

    to delineate or block off a section of road or pavement using traffic cones; often used with 'off'.

    Example

    The police had to cone off the street while they cleared the fallen tree.

    Example

    Maintenance crews were instructed to cone off the damaged section of the bridge until structural repairs could be completed the following morning.
Origin

From Middle English cone (“corner, angle”) and conoun (“cone”), from Medieval Latin cōnus, cōnon (“cone, wedge, peak”), from Ancient Greek κῶνος (kônos, “cone, spinning top, pine cone”). Reinforced by Middle French cone, from the same Graeco-Latin source.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

Last updated June 20, 2026