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cane

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem thereof.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

kayn
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈkeɪn

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. A plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem thereof

  2. A strong slender often flexible stem as of bamboos, reeds, rattans, or sugar cane

  3. The stem of such a plant adapted for use as a tool

  4. A rod-shaped tool or device, resembling the stem of the plant

  5. countable

    A strong short staff used for support or decoration during walking; a walking stick.

  6. countable

    A short rod or stick, traditionally of wood or bamboo, used for corporal punishment.

verb

  1. uknew zealandslang

    To destroy; to comprehensively defeat.

  2. uknew zealandslang

    To do something well, in a competent fashion.

  3. ukslang

    To go very fast.

  4. UKAustraliaslangintransitive

    To produce extreme pain.

  5. To strike or beat with a cane or similar implement.

  6. transitive

    To make or furnish with cane or rattan.

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: A plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem thereof

Used this way, cane is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use cane

  • “The elderly gentleman walked with the aid of a wooden cane.”

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.