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
c
: rattan sense 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)
caned; caning
1
: to beat with a cane
he sat in a professor's chair and caned sophomores for blowing spitballs—
H. L. Mencken
H. L. Mencken2
: to weave or furnish with cane
cane the seat of a chair
Synonyms
Examples of cane in a Sentence
Noun
In the past, some teachers would resort to the cane when students misbehaved.
The chair seat is made of cane.
Verb
In the past, some teachers would cane students who misbehaved.
Recent Examples on the WebSteve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
Last year, when Jim visited Lou at home, Peter recalled, Lou walked over to his front door, using a cane — then put it aside, stood erect, threw his shoulders back and opened the door.
—Alex Traub, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
After the actress walked the red carpet while using a cane at the premiere of her new film A Bit of Light earlier this week, the internet was abuzz with concern for her well-being — and she was deeply affected by the outpouring of care.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
On Wednesday, April 3, the actress, 41, walked the red carpet with her husband Stephen Moyer at the Crosby Street Hotel in New York City for their latest film, A Bit of Light, using a cane for assistance.
—Gillian Telling, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
The thin racemes that produced the hosta’s pink flowers need removing, the high-bush blueberries have too many canes, the honeysuckle has grown leggy, and then there’s the rhododendron.
—Robert Klose, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Feb. 2024
But on Réunion—the most far-flung of the lot, a small island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar—almost all the rum made there is from molasses, not cane juice.
—Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Better Homes & Gardens Set of Two Cane Weave Basket Set
Buy on Walmart $16
Extra storage in a bathroom is a necessity, and these cane baskets are attractive enough to keep out or stow away inside your cabinets.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024
In October 2021, was spotted using a cane to assist her in walking.
—Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Feb. 2024
Avoid textured tables with rattan, raffia, or caning, and look for an easy-to-wipe surface.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2024
In 1856, abolitionist Massachusetts GOP Sen. Charles Sumner was caned inside the old Senate chamber by a pro-slavery Democrat in the run-up to the Civil War.
—Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
The government has an authoritarian bent, to be sure, with a judiciary that prescribes caning, especially for repeat offenders, and the death penalty for certain acts of violence and drug offenses.
—Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2023
That versatility, Davis adds, is part of what makes caning such a great design choice.
—Julianne Hilmes Bartlett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
Prune canes back to two buds if canes are infected.
—oregonlive, 19 Aug. 2023
Advocates say Islamic laws have increasingly used to target the Southeast Asian country’s LGBTQ community, with a rise in arrests and punishments ranging from caning to jailing.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 25 July 2023
Such high-traffic areas can feel cluttered, but thoughtful details like caning can help calm the chaos.
—Caroline Picard, House Beautiful, 24 July 2023
Noun
He’s been putting off hip replacement surgery, too, and uses a cane.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
Last year, when Jim visited Lou at home, Peter recalled, Lou walked over to his front door, using a cane — then put it aside, stood erect, threw his shoulders back and opened the door.
—Alex Traub, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
After the actress walked the red carpet while using a cane at the premiere of her new film A Bit of Light earlier this week, the internet was abuzz with concern for her well-being — and she was deeply affected by the outpouring of care.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
On Wednesday, April 3, the actress, 41, walked the red carpet with her husband Stephen Moyer at the Crosby Street Hotel in New York City for their latest film, A Bit of Light, using a cane for assistance.
—Gillian Telling, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
The thin racemes that produced the hosta’s pink flowers need removing, the high-bush blueberries have too many canes, the honeysuckle has grown leggy, and then there’s the rhododendron.
—Robert Klose, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Feb. 2024
But on Réunion—the most far-flung of the lot, a small island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar—almost all the rum made there is from molasses, not cane juice.
—Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Better Homes & Gardens Set of Two Cane Weave Basket Set
Buy on Walmart $16
Extra storage in a bathroom is a necessity, and these cane baskets are attractive enough to keep out or stow away inside your cabinets.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024
In October 2021, was spotted using a cane to assist her in walking.
—Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
One of my favorite pieces of furniture in my childhood home was a wooden and metal rocking chair that had caning details.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Feb. 2024
Avoid textured tables with rattan, raffia, or caning, and look for an easy-to-wipe surface.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2024
In 1856, abolitionist Massachusetts GOP Sen. Charles Sumner was caned inside the old Senate chamber by a pro-slavery Democrat in the run-up to the Civil War.
—Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
The government has an authoritarian bent, to be sure, with a judiciary that prescribes caning, especially for repeat offenders, and the death penalty for certain acts of violence and drug offenses.
—Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2023
That versatility, Davis adds, is part of what makes caning such a great design choice.
—Julianne Hilmes Bartlett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
Prune canes back to two buds if canes are infected.
—oregonlive, 19 Aug. 2023
Advocates say Islamic laws have increasingly used to target the Southeast Asian country’s LGBTQ community, with a rise in arrests and punishments ranging from caning to jailing.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 25 July 2023
Such high-traffic areas can feel cluttered, but thoughtful details like caning can help calm the chaos.
—Caroline Picard, House Beautiful, 24 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cane
Cite this Entry
“Cane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cane. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cane
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a jointed plant stem that is usually slender and more or less flexible
b
: any of various tall woody grasses or reeds
especially
: sugarcane
2
cane
2 of 2 verb
caned; caning
1
: to beat with a cane
2
: to make with cane
cane the seat of a chair
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