sugarcane

noun

sug·​ar·​cane ˈshu̇-gər-ˌkān 

: a stout tall perennial grass (Saccharum officinarum) native to tropical southeast Asia that has a large terminal panicle and is widely grown in warm regions as a source of sugar

Illustration of sugarcane

Examples of sugarcane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the west bank of the Nile, sugarcane and banana plantations lead to a limestone canyon topped by Al-Qurn, or The Horn, a natural peak shaped like a pyramid. — Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026

Unusually wet conditions disrupted Brazil's sugarcane harvest, while drought and other weather extremes affected production in other major growing regions. — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026

The location was a former sugarcane plantation notorious for cruelty, and accounts of apparitions in the water are a reminder of this history. — Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Alpha hydroxy acids are a family of water-soluble chemical exfoliants, often derived from sources like sugarcane, milk, and fruit, that help loosen the bonds holding dead skin cells together. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sugarcane

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• halothane
• hurricane
• hyperplane

Kids Definition

sugarcane

noun

sug·​ar·​cane ˈshu̇g-ər-ˌkān 

: a tall tropical grass that has a thick jointed stem and is widely grown in warm regions as a source of sugar