cane
/keɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /keɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkān/ (ame, mw)
cane — noun
- canesingular
- canesplural
1. the long, rigid, tube-shaped stems of certain plants, especially bamboo and suga
the long, rigid, tube-shaped stems of certain plants, especially bamboo and sugar cane, used as a material for making furniture or as garden supports for plants
The garden chairs were made from woven cane and stayed outside all summer.
material: woven cane for furniture
Farmers load cut sugar cane onto trucks that take it to the factory.
collocation: sugar cane
Kenji tied each tomato plant to a bamboo cane so it would grow straight.
The furniture maker soaked strips of cane in water before weaving the seat.
用法筆記
When referring to the material, cane is uncountable (e.g. a chair made of cane). When referring to a single stem or support stick, cane is countable (e.g. a bamboo cane).
2. a stick that a person holds to help balance or support their weight while walkin
a stick that a person holds to help balance or support their weight while walking, often made of wood or metal with a curved top that fits the hand
Grandpa replaced his old wooden cane with a lighter aluminium one after the surgery.
Elena leaned on her cane as she made her way across the hospital waiting room.
The elderly man tapped his cane on the pavement impatiently while waiting for the bus.
Mei-Lin bought her grandmother a folding cane that fit easily inside a handbag.
- walking stick
interchangeable with cane in this sense; slightly more informal
- staff
a longer, heavier stick used for hiking; less common as a medical aid
- crutch
a support that reaches from the armpit to the ground; used when a leg cannot bear any weight
3. a thin stick that was used in the past to discipline someone, especially a schoo
a thin stick that was used in the past to discipline someone, especially a schoolchild, by striking them across the hands or body
In those days every classroom had a cane hanging behind the teacher's desk.
historical: 'the cane' as a school institution
Santiago received three strokes of the cane for talking during the exam.
The headmaster used the cane on any student caught smoking behind the gym.
The school banned the cane in 1987 after complaints from parents.
用法筆記
Often used as the cane to refer to this type of punishment as an established practice in schools. Caning has been banned in many countries since the late 20th century.
常見錯誤
cane — verb
- canepresent simple I / you / we / they
- canes3rd person singular
- caning-ing form
- canedpast simple
1. to punish a person by striking them with a thin stick, usually across the hands
to punish a person by striking them with a thin stick, usually across the hands or the back of the legs, as a formal school discipline in the past
In some old schools the teachers would cane students who broke the rules repeatedly.
active: cane + person
The headmaster threatened to cane the boys if they continued to steal from the shop.
Omar was caned for arriving late to class three mornings in a row.
Thandiwe's grandfather recalled how the teacher caned his palms for speaking in class.
文法句型
cane + person
be caned + for + offence
用法筆記
This practice (corporal punishment in schools) is now illegal in most of the English-speaking world. The verb appears mainly in historical or literary contexts. Distinguish from sense noun/3 — the noun describes the stick itself, while the verb describes the action of using it.