cane

1 of 2

noun

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)
(3)
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)

cane

2 of 2

verb

caned; caning

transitive verb

1
: to beat with a cane
he sat in a professor's chair and caned sophomores for blowing spitballsH. L. Mencken
2
: to weave or furnish with cane
cane the seat of a chair

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 Web
Noun
Billie Eilish recently spoke with Billboard about her decision to use 100% recycled vinyl, plus recycled scraps for colored variants and shrink-wrap packaging made from sugar cane, materials that Audiodrome is also using. Katie Bain, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024 While walking with her cane, which supports her mobility, the actress made sure to give the camera a 360-degree view of the voluminous design. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024 Presently, Mark Windham is of the opinion that fungicides are not effective for management of cane disease. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024 Advertisement The magazine reported on Wednesday that the actor’s health issues have impacted her mobility, prompting the need for a cane. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024 Francis, who is 87, needs a wheelchair or a cane to move around, and has recently limited his public speaking while struggling with bronchitis and the flu. Alvise Armellini, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024 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
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.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

circa 1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cane was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cane

Cite this Entry

“Cane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cane. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

cane

1 of 2 noun
1
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
b
: a rod for flogging

cane

2 of 2 verb
caned; caning
1
: to beat with a cane
2
: to make with cane
cane the seat of a chair

More from Merriam-Webster on cane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!