cane
cane [cane canes caned caning] noun, verb BrE [keɪn] NAmE [keɪn]
noun
1. countable the hard hollow ↑stem of some plants, for example ↑bamboo or sugar
2. uncountable these ↑stems used as a material for making furniture, etc
•a cane chair
3. countable a piece of cane or a thin stick, used as a support for plants
•bean plants supported by bamboo canes
4. countable a piece of cane or a thin stick, used to help sb to walk
•He clutched a top hat and a silver-topped cane.
see also ↑walking stick
5. countable a piece of cane or a thin stick, used in the past in some schools for beating children as a punishment
•to get the cane (= be punished with a ↑cane )
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French, via Latin from Greek kanna, kannē, of Semitic origin.
Example Bank:
•The headmaster threatened to give them the cane.
•a basket made of cane
•an old man with a wooden walking cane
Derived Word: ↑caning
verb ~ sb
to hit a child with a ↑cane as a punishment
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French, via Latin from Greek kanna, kannē, of Semitic origin.
|
|
