cane
Americannoun
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canes
plural
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a stick or short staff used to assist one in walking; walking stick.
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a long, hollow or pithy, jointed woody stem, as that of bamboo, rattan, sugarcane, and certain palms.
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a plant having such a stem.
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split rattan woven or interlaced for chair seats, wickerwork, etc.
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any of several tall bamboolike grasses, especially of the genus Arundinaria, as A. gigantea cane reed, large cane, giant cane, or southern cane and A. tecta small cane, or switch cane, of the southern United States.
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the stem of a raspberry or blackberry.
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a rod used for flogging.
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a slender cylinder or rod, as of sealing wax or glass.
verb (used with object)
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canes,
present (3rd person singular)
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caned,
past participle, past
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caning
present participle
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to flog with a cane.
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to furnish or make with cane.
to cane chairs.
noun
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the long jointed pithy or hollow flexible stem of the bamboo, rattan, or any similar plant
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any plant having such a stem
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strips of such stems, woven or interlaced to make wickerwork, the seats and backs of chairs, etc
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( as modifier )
a cane chair
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the woody stem of a reed, young grapevine, blackberry, raspberry, or loganberry
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any of several grasses with long stiff stems, esp Arundinaria gigantea of the southeastern US
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a flexible rod with which to administer a beating as a punishment, as to schoolboys
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a slender rod, usually wooden and often ornamental, used for support when walking; walking stick
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See sugar cane
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a slender rod or cylinder, as of glass
verb
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to whip or beat with or as if with a cane
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to make or repair with cane
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informal to defeat
we got well caned in the match
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slang to do something with great power, force, or speed or consume something such as alcohol in large quantities
you can do it in ten minutes if you really cane it
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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canesimple
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canessimple
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have canedperfect
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has canedperfect
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am caningprogressive
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are caningprogressive
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is caningprogressive
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have been caningperfect progressive
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has been caningperfect progressive
Past
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canedsimple
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had canedperfect
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was caningprogressive
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were caningprogressive
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had been caningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of cane
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin canna, from Greek kánna, from Semitic; compare Akkadian qanū, Hebrew qāneh “reed”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
One guide suggests beginners start with polylactic acid filament, a generally nontoxic material made primarily of cornstarch or sugar cane.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
He couldn’t help but notice that some of his contemporaries from when he played with the Braves and Dodgers were walking slower, in some cases with the help of a cane or an assistant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Another grower near Mid-Illovo, a region of rolling hills south of Durban, said most cane cutters in his area came from Lesotho, the tiny kingdom encircled by South Africa.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Rob Moulds, 57, from Birmingham, is visually impaired and uses a cane when walking.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
I stopped by the ticket booth and handed the cane to Bring Back My Hammer.
From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
Elderly and propping himself up with canes, he said this conflict was of a different magnitude.
From Barron's ● Mar. 18, 2026
Once able-bodied men, they walk with canes, one step at a time.
From Slate ● Dec. 26, 2025
Those costs will rise as France ages into dentures and canes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025
And Buck’s partner, JT Friedman, leads a raucous rendition of Alan Jackson’s “Honky Tonk Christmas” while passing out candy canes from a stocking.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2025
Some with canes and walkers, wearing busted shoes.
From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds
Italy was caned by New Zealand 96-17 last week in Lyon but the Azzurri are usually thrashed by the All Blacks.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 5, 2023
"They went to Aston Villa, got caned and never recovered," said BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore of a 4-0 hammering at Villa Park in March.
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2023
Before drafting his design, Mr. Jouin visited the Richelieu and saw a mix of seating in various rooms, including rows of high-backed caned chairs.
From New York Times ● Sep. 1, 2022
I ended up selling our beloved caned bentwood chairs because they just weren't comfortable to sit in for a long time.
From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2022
He knew if he were caught, his stay at school would only be a very short one; and better anything than be caned, and afterwards expelled.
From Wilton School or, Harry Campbell's Revenge by Fred E. Weatherly
To him, the caning was in principle no different.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
“Miracle on 34th Street” probably was the first movie to give the commercialism of the holidays a stiff caning as we watch mega-department stores Gimbel’s and Macy’s try to outdo each other in Christmas sales.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 9, 2022
"We were caning it," bassist Peter Hook announces jocularly as he recalls the frenzied recording session for the England team's official World Cup anthem.
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2020
If Sietsema gave a brutal caning to a new spot you’d probably look askance if you found out that he owned a place across the street.
From Fox News ● Dec. 31, 2018
The next one had on it: Why has south eastern Alaska so many caning factories?
From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
