A corset is a close-fitting, supportive undergarment designed to cinch the waist and shape the torso. Traditionally made with rigid fabric and boning, it creates a defined waistline and an elongated silhouette. In fashion today, corsets may be worn as outerwear or lingerie, combining structure with style and sometimes corsetry history in couture contexts.
"She tightened her corset to achieve a dramatic, hourglass silhouette."
"The Victorian-era corset required careful lacing to avoid discomfort."
"Under the formal gown, a satin corset provided smooth lines and support."
"Contemporary designers previewed a flexible, modern corset that blends comfort with couture."
Corset comes from the French cote/co[r]set? The precise etymology traces to Old French corset, a diminutive of cors (body, torso) and/or cuer, with influences from court? In English, corset appeared in the 16th-17th centuries as a term for a shaped garment encasing the torso. The early corset was often boned or stiffened with whale bone, wood, or metal; it served as a support garment and a fashion device for shaping the body, especially the waist. Over time, function and silhouette evolved: in the 18th–19th centuries, corsets became more tightly laced, then diversified into fashion lingerie in the 20th century, with modern designs emphasizing comfort and adjustable fit while preserving historical reference. The word’s pronunciation stabilized to /ˈkɔːr.sɪt/ in many dialects, with variation in vowel quality across regions. First known English attestations appear in medical and fashion contexts in early modern sources, reflecting the garment’s cultural prominence across eras.
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Words that rhyme with "Corset"
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Corset is pronounced COR-sət, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈkɔːr.sæt/ or /ˈkɔːr.sət/ depending on transcriber; UK /ˈkɔːs.eɪ/? (older sources vary). The first vowel is open-mid back rounded /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ depending on speaker; the second vowel is a lax schwa or a short /ə/ in fast speech. Tip: keep the first syllable strong, the second very light, and end with a crisp /t/.
Common mistakes: 1) Over-articulating the second syllable, making it a full vowel like /sɛt/; 2) Not pronouncing the final /t/ clearly, leading to /ˈkɔːr.sə/ or /ˈkɔːr.sət/ without final stop. Correction: keep a short, quick /ɪ/ or /ə/ in the second slot and finalize with a crisp alveolar /t/. Practice saying COR-sət with a strong first beat and a quick, precise /t/.
US speakers typically produce /ˈkɔːr.sɪt/ or /ˈkɔːr.set/, with r-colored first syllable. UK speakers often lean toward /ˈkɔː.sət/ or /ˈkɔːs.ɪt/, with a non-rhotic accent and a more open first vowel; AU tends toward /ˈkɔː.sət/ with a light, clipped final /t/. In all, stress remains on the first syllable; vowel quality shifts reflect rhoticity and length.
Difficulties center on the vowel in the first syllable and the final consonant. The /ɔː/ vowel requires rounded lips and a low jaw position, while the final /t/ can be devoiced or omitted in fast speech. Some learners pronounce /kɔːr/. Emphasize the clean alveolar stop at the end and a stable mid-back vowel in the first syllable. Use IPA cues to modulate lip rounding and tongue height.
Corset’s first syllable often merges with a subtle /ɔːr/ in American speech, producing a brief r-colored vowel before the /s/ onset. In careful speech you’ll hear /ˈkɔːr.sət/ with a clear /r/ or a light /ə/ in the second syllable. Pay attention to the transition /r/ or lack thereof depending on accent; the final /t/ should be released crisply to avoid sounding like /-sət/ without consonant closure.
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