What does "quoin" mean?
Any of the corner building blocks of a building, usually larger or more ornate than the surrounding blocks.
Quoin
/k(w)ɔɪn/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of the corner building blocks of a building, usually larger or more ornate than the surrounding blocks.
- Grammar: quoin is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: angle, apex, bend, bifurcation.
- Usage evidence: In Casterbridge there stood a noble pile, […] But evil days beset that domicile; The stately beauties of its roof and wall Passed into sordid hands. Condemned to fall Were cornice, quoin, and cove, And all that art had wove in antique style.
How to use "quoin"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "quoin" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "quoin" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "quoin" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "quoin" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "quoin" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "angle" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "quoin", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of the corner building blocks of a building, usually larger or more ornate than the surrounding blocks.
"In Casterbridge there stood a noble pile, […] But evil days beset that domicile; The stately beauties of its roof and wall Passed into sordid hands. Condemned to fall Were cornice, quoin, and cove, And all that art had wove in antique style."
- 2 (architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone wordnet
- 3 The keystone of an arch.
- 4 the keystone of an arch wordnet
- 5 A metal wedge which fits into the space between the type and the edge of a chase, and is tightened to fix the metal type in place. historical
"Next fit the quoins, using the “persuader” to squeeze in the pages, and tap up all around."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 expandable metal or wooden wedge used by printers to lock up a form within a chase wordnet
- 7 A form of wedge used to prevent casks from moving. obsolete
- 8 A wedge of wood or iron put under the breech of heavy guns or the muzzle of siege-mortars to raise them to the proper level.
- 9 A number of apple varieties with a distinctive ribbed appearance, like corners of a coin.
Verb
- 1 To wedge or steady with quoins. transitive
Example
"In Casterbridge there stood a noble pile, […] But evil days beset that domicile; The stately beauties of its roof and wall Passed into sordid hands. Condemned to fall Were cornice, quoin, and cove, And all that art had wove in antique style."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "quoin"?
Common synonyms include: angle, apex, bend, bifurcation, bight, cant.
How do you use "quoin" in a sentence?
In Casterbridge there stood a noble pile, […] But evil days beset that domicile; The stately beauties of its roof and wall Passed into sordid hands. Condemned to fall Were cornice, quoin, and cove, And all that art had wove in antique style.
How do you pronounce "quoin"?
Pronounced /k(w)ɔɪn/.
Etymology
Variant of coin; compare coign.