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2 VERB [usu passive] If someone is corrupted by something, it causes them to become dishonest and unjust and unable to be trusted. □ [be V -ed] It is sad to see a man so corrupted by the desire for money and power.

3 VERB To corrupt someone means to cause them to stop caring about moral standards. □ [V n] …warning that television will corrupt us all. □ [V ] Cruelty depraves and corrupts.

4 VERB [usu passive] If something is corrupted , it becomes damaged or spoiled in some way. □ [be V -ed] Some of the finer type-faces are corrupted by cheap, popular computer printers. □ [V -ed] …corrupted data.

cor|rup|tion ◆◇◇ /kərʌ pʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Corruption is dishonesty and illegal behaviour by people in positions of authority or power. □  Distribution of food throughout the country is being hampered by inefficiency and corruption.

cor|sage /kɔː ^r sɑː ʒ/ (corsages ) N‑COUNT A corsage is a very small bunch of flowers that is fastened to a woman's dress below the shoulder.

cor|set /kɔː ^r s I t/ (corsets ) N‑COUNT A corset is a stiff piece of underwear worn by some women, especially in the past. It fits tightly around their hips and waist and makes them thinner around the waist when they wear it.

cor|set|ed /kɔː ^r s I t I d/ ADJ A woman who is corseted is wearing a corset.

cor|tege /kɔː ^r te I ʒ, [AM ] -te ʒ/ (corteges ) also cortège N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A cortege is a procession of people who are walking or riding in cars to a funeral.

cor|tex /kɔː ^r teks/ (cortices /kɔː ^r t I siːz/) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The cortex of the brain or of another organ is its outer layer. [MEDICAL ] □  …the cerebral cortex.

cor|ti|sone /kɔː ^r t I zoʊn/ N‑UNCOUNT Cortisone is a hormone used in the treatment of arthritis, allergies, and some skin diseases.

co|rus|cat|ing /kɒ rəske I t I ŋ, [AM ] kɔː r-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A coruscating speech or performance is lively, intelligent, and impressive. [LITERARY , APPROVAL ] □  …coruscating humour.

cor|vette /kɔː ^r ve t/ (corvettes ) N‑COUNT A corvette is a small fast warship that is used to protect other ships from attack.

'cos ◆◆◇ /kəz/ also cos CONJ 'Cos is an informal way of saying because . [BRIT , SPOKEN ] □  It was absolutely horrible going up the hills 'cos they were really, really steep. in AM, use 'cause

cosh /kɒ ʃ/ (coshes , coshing , coshed )

1 N‑COUNT A cosh is a heavy piece of rubber or metal which is used as a weapon. [BRIT ]

2 VERB To cosh someone means to hit them hard on the head with a cosh or a similar weapon. [BRIT ] □ [V n] …robbers who punched Tom and coshed Helen.

cos|met|ic /kɒzme t I k/ (cosmetics )

1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Cosmetics are substances such as lipstick or powder, which people put on their face to make themselves look more attractive.

2 ADJ If you describe measures or changes as cosmetic , you mean they improve the appearance of a situation or thing but do not change its basic nature, and you are usually implying that they are inadequate. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  It is a cosmetic measure which will do nothing to help the situation long term.

cos|me t|ic su r|gery N‑UNCOUNT Cosmetic surgery is surgery done to make a person look more attractive.

cos|mic /kɒ zm I k/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Cosmic means occurring in, or coming from, the part of space that lies outside Earth and its atmosphere. □  …cosmic radiation. □  …cosmic debris.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Cosmic means belonging or relating to the universe. □  …the cosmic laws governing our world.

cos|mic ra ys N‑PLURAL Cosmic rays are rays that reach Earth from outer space and consist of atomic nuclei.

cos|mol|ogy /kɒzmɒ lədʒi/ (cosmologies )

1 N‑VAR A cosmology is a theory about the origin and nature of the universe. □  …the ideas implicit in Big Bang cosmology.