sugarcane

noun

sug·​ar·​cane ˈshu̇-gər-ˌkān How to pronounce sugarcane (audio)
: a stout tall perennial grass (Saccharum officinarum) native to tropical southeast Asia that has a large terminal panicle and is widely grown in warm regions as a source of sugar

Illustration of sugarcane

Illustration of sugarcane

Examples of sugarcane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Archival film reels captured slices of the sugarcane industry in Java, first established by the Dutch and continuing under Suharto’s regime, coalescing into a kaleidoscopic and vertiginous rereading of the colonial past and an interrogation of historical specters. Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024 Their method, which was first unveiled to considerable fanfare at COP24, can generate briquettes of fuel using any type of feedstock, from sugarcane leaves to elephant grass. Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 It’s commonly made from sugar plants, mainly sugarcane (Beta vulgaris var. Johna Burdeos, Health, 17 Sep. 2024 Limited research suggests that sugarcane vinegar, for instance, lowers blood fats. Matt Fuchs, TIME, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sugarcane 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sugarcane was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sugarcane

Cite this Entry

“Sugarcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sugarcane. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

sugarcane

noun
sug·​ar·​cane ˈshu̇g-ər-ˌkān How to pronounce sugarcane (audio)
: a tall tropical grass that has a thick jointed stem and is widely grown in warm regions as a source of sugar
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!