cannon
/ˈkænən/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈænən] /ˈkænən/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈænən] /ˈka-nən/ (ame, mw)
cannon — noun
- cannonsingular
- cannonsplural
1. a very large gun from the past that fired heavy balls or shells, often from whee
a very large gun from the past that fired heavy balls or shells, often from wheels or a wooden frame
Museum staff rolled the old cannon beside the stone gate.
collocation: old cannon
At noon, the fortress cannon fired across the river.
Children covered their ears when the cannon boomed at the show.
The army dragged two cannons up the muddy hill.
- gun
much broader and can refer to many smaller weapons
- artillery piece
more formal and technical in military writing
- howitzer
a specific type of artillery rather than a general label
文法句型
fire a cannon
drag a cannon uphill
old cannon by the gate
用法筆記
Usually refers to older large guns in history, museums, or period stories, not modern weapons fixed to tanks or aircraft.
2. a large gun fixed to a tank, plane, or similar vehicle for firing in combat
a large gun fixed to a tank, plane, or similar vehicle for firing in combat
The tank's cannon tore a hole through the wall.
collocation: tank's cannon
Ground crews checked the jet cannon before the training flight.
A warning light flashed when the helicopter cannon jammed.
The crew swung the cannon toward the empty target range.
文法句型
tank cannon
jet cannon
helicopter cannon
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this meaning is about a gun built into a modern vehicle, not an older gun moved on its own wheels.
3. a cue-sport shot where the white ball reaches two other balls during the same st
a cue-sport shot where the white ball reaches two other balls during the same stroke
Liam smiled after a cannon left him an easy shot.
pattern: play a cannon
The referee called a cannon before the black reached the pocket.
One soft cannon moved both balls closer to the cushion.
In practice, Hana repeated the same cannon from three angles.
- carom
the more common term in some cue-sport varieties
文法句型
play a cannon
a soft cannon
cannon into position
用法筆記
Used only in cue sports. Outside billiards or snooker, people do not use cannon for this kind of shot.
4. an arm strong enough to send a ball a long way at high speed
an arm strong enough to send a ball a long way at high speed
The catcher has a cannon and stops runners at second.
pattern: have a cannon
Scouts noticed Devika's cannon during the first warm-up throw.
With that cannon, the keeper can start attacks quickly.
The coach moved Rafael outside because his cannon fit right field.
- arm
much less vivid and does not stress exceptional throwing power
文法句型
have a cannon
show a cannon
a cannon in right field
用法筆記
Common in sports talk, especially for baseball and other games where players throw hard over a long distance.
cannon — verb
- cannonpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cannons3rd person singular
- cannoning-ing form
- cannonedpast simple
1. to move into someone or something with a sudden, hard hit, usually by accident
to move into someone or something with a sudden, hard hit, usually by accident
Folake cannoned into the cart while turning the corner.
pattern: cannon into + object
The boy cannoned into a lamp and broke the shade.
A bicycle cannoned into the fence after the chain snapped.
During the drill, two players cannoned into each other.
- crash into
more common and less vivid than cannon into
- slam into
stresses the force of the hit even more strongly
文法句型
cannon into a cart
cannon into someone
cannon into a fence
用法筆記
Usually followed by into and often describes movement that is fast, uncontrolled, and accidental.
2. to hit something and then fly or roll away from it at an angle
to hit something and then fly or roll away from it at an angle
The ball cannoned off the post and crossed the line.
pattern: cannon off + surface
A loose stone cannoned off the truck and hit the ditch.
Joshua's shot cannoned off a chair leg under the table.
The puck cannoned off the boards behind the goal.
文法句型
cannon off the post
cannon off a chair leg
cannon off the boards
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, the moving thing bounces away after the impact instead of stopping at the thing it hit.
3. in billiards or snooker, to send the cue ball into two other balls with a single
in billiards or snooker, to send the cue ball into two other balls with a single stroke
Eri cannoned the cue ball off the red and onto yellow.
pattern: cannon the cue ball
The white ball cannoned cleanly and left Kian a simple pot.
To escape the snooker, Liam tried to cannon both reds.
One thin shot cannoned off the black into the loose red.
- carom
the more familiar cue-sport verb in some varieties of English
文法句型
cannon the cue ball
cannon off the red
cannon both reds
用法筆記
This cue-sports meaning can describe either the player's shot or the cue ball's path.
4. to shoot from a cannon, especially during a battle
to shoot from a cannon, especially during a battle
At dawn, the fort cannoned at the ships offshore.
pattern: cannon at + target
All morning, the battery cannoned from behind the hill.
The crew cannoned twice before smoke covered the bridge.
During the battle, both ships cannoned across the narrow bay.
文法句型
cannon at the ships
cannon from the fort
cannon across the bay
用法筆記
Mostly found in military or historical writing. In everyday English, people usually say fire or shell instead.