cane

noun \ ˈkān \

Definition of cane

1 a (1) :a hollow or pithy, usually slender, and often flexible jointed stem (as of a reed or bamboo)

a fishing pole made of cane

(2) :any of various slender woody stems; especially :an elongated flowering or fruiting stem (as of a rose) usually arising directly from the ground

b :any of various tall woody grasses or reeds: such as

(1) :any of a genus (Arundinaria) of bamboo

(2) :sugarcane

(3) :sorghum

c :rattan 2b; especially :split rattan for wickerwork or basketwork

2 :a stick typically of wood or metal with a usually curved handle at one end that is grasped to provide stability in walking or standing

3 :a rod or stick used for flogging

4 :a tiny glass rod used in decorative glasswork (as in millefiori and paperweights)

See cane defined for English-language learners

See cane defined for kids

Examples of cane in a Sentence

In the past, some teachers would resort to the cane when students misbehaved.
The chair seat is made of cane.

Recent Examples of cane from the Web

To make your own spice blend for this soup, combine 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon cane sugar in a small bowl.

— bonnie s. benwick, sacbee, "The lost art of cutting up a chicken," 29 Aug. 2017
Katy Perry long ago traded candy canes and gum drops for a more elevated, androgynous look and feel.

— carly cardellino, Cosmopolitan, "Katy Perry Just Launched an Androgynous Scent That's All About Embracing Your Individuality," 17 Aug. 2017
He’s introduced using a question-mark cane to slash a dude’s throat open.

— joshua rivera, GQ, "The Video Game That Messes With Everything You Think You Know About Batman," 9 Aug. 2017
Haug was charmed by a set of plastic candy canes that light up.

— joyce rudolph, Glendale News-Press, "On the Town: Holiday sale keeps league members hopping," 8 Aug. 2017
The family announced this summer that the 58 acre property, easily visible from I-94 by the massive sign of a mustachioed man in a brown suit with a bowler hat and cane, was sold.

— robert allen, Detroit Free Press, "What doomed Gibraltar Trade Center? Online competitors, aging vendors," 4 Aug. 2017
Without the cane, the coast's already rapid rate of erosion will increase, scientists say.

— tristan baurick, NOLA.com, "Help Louisiana scientists track spread of wetland-killing bug," 1 Aug. 2017
Some say it was created for Sir Frances Drake while the more likely story is that slaves in the Cuban sugar cane fields crafted the drink from a homemade rum called aguadiente (literal translation: firewater), mint and limes.

— kevin hopper, idahostatesman, "When the backyard gives you mint, make mojitos," 18 July 2017
LaVar walked alongside his wife, who was supported with a quad cane and proudly wore the family’s BBB shirt in blue and gold, the colors of her NBA son’s alma mater, UCLA.

— karen mizoguchi, SI.com, "Lonzo Ball's mother, Tina, makes first public appearance since suffering stroke," 15 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cane.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cane

Middle English, from Medieval French, from Old Occitan cana, from Latin canna, from Greek kanna, of Semitic origin; akin to Akkadian qanū reed, Hebrew qāneh

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

cane Synonyms

Synonyms

bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, club, cudgel, nightstick, rod, rung [Scottish], sap, shillelagh (also shillalah), staff, truncheon, waddy [Australian]

Related Words

blackjack, knobkerrie, mace; birch, crabstick, hickory, rattan, stave, switch; beetle, gavel, hammer, mallet, maul, sledgehammer; crook, crosier (or crozier), walking stick, whangee

cane

verb

Definition of cane

caned; caning

transitive verb

1 :to beat with a cane

he sat in a professor's chair and caned sophomores for blowing spitballs
—H. L. Mencken

2 :to weave or furnish with cane

cane the seat of a chair

See cane defined for English-language learners

Examples of cane in a Sentence

In the past, some teachers would cane students who misbehaved.

Recent Examples of cane from the Web

Cane’s marinates never-frozen chicken tenderloins for 24 hours before dropping it in the fryer.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in Baton Rouge," 30 June 2017

First Known Use of cane

1662

CANE Defined for English Language Learners

cane

noun

Definition of cane for English Language Learners

: a short stick that often has a curved handle and is used to help someone to walk
the cane : a form of punishment in which a person is hit with a cane or stick
: the hard hollow stem of a plant (such as bamboo or reed) that is used to make furniture and baskets