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cornucopia
noun
cor·nu·co·pia
ˌkȯr-nə-ˈkō-pē-ə 
-nyə-ˈkō-
1
: a curved, hollow goat's horn or similarly shaped receptacle (such as a horn-shaped basket) that is overflowing especially with fruit and vegetables (such as gourds, ears of corn, apples, and grapes) and that is used as a decorative motif emblematic of abundance
called also horn of plenty
2
: an inexhaustible store : abundance
We marveled at the cornucopia of fruits, meats, toys, fresh fish, baskets, utensils and leather goods for sale in stalls that lined the streets for as far as we could see.—
Guy Garcia
Guy GarciaFor contemporary performers, soul represents a cornucopia of musical ideas.—Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles3
: a receptacle shaped like a horn or cone
Did you know?
Cornucopia Has Latin Origins and Greek History
Cornucopia comes from the Late Latin cornu copiae, which translates literally as “horn of plenty.” A traditional staple of feasts, the cornucopia is believed to represent the horn of a goat from Greek mythology. According to legend, it was from this horn, which could be filled with whatever the owner wished, that the god Zeus was fed as an infant by his nurse, the nymph Amalthaea. Later, the horn was filled with flowers and fruits, and given as a present to Zeus. The filled horn (or a receptacle resembling it) has long served as a traditional symbol in art and decoration to suggest a store of abundance. The word first appeared in English in the early 16th century; a century later, it developed the figurative sense of “an overflowing supply.”
Examples of cornucopia in a Sentence
The market is a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables.
The book includes a cornucopia of wonderful stories.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a cornucopia of superhero and villain tales spanning multiple timelines.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 21 Mar. 2025
But Alaska was no cornucopia, and hungry Russia cast its eyes south, to verdant California.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
In Roman mythology, Flora was the goddess of flowers and was often depicted as a young woman holding flowers or a cornucopia.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025
Beyond the show itself, the press tour for Watson has been a cornucopia of pleasures.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cornucopia
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Grace Dean, Space.com, 21 Mar. 2025
But Alaska was no cornucopia, and hungry Russia cast its eyes south, to verdant California.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
In Roman mythology, Flora was the goddess of flowers and was often depicted as a young woman holding flowers or a cornucopia.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025
Beyond the show itself, the press tour for Watson has been a cornucopia of pleasures.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cornucopia
Cite this Entry
“Cornucopia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cornucopia. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cornucopia
noun
cor·nu·co·pia
ˌkȯr-n(y)ə-ˈkō-pē-ə
1
: a horn-shaped container overflowing with fruits and flowers used as a symbol of plenty
2
: a container shaped like a horn or a cone
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