jaunch Cornbread is just like it sounds: bread made out of ground corn instead of wheat. It isn't as soft and fluffy as regular bread. It's almost like a firm cake. It is often slightly sweet, but doesn't have to be. I have had spicy "Mexican" cornbread with peppers in it, for example. It goes great with spicy soups like gumbo and red beans & rice. Of course, I'm from Louisiana, so those are the foods I most often associate with cornbread.
I don't know if you've ever had a hush puppy either, but if you have, cornbread is very similar.