canton

[ kan-tn, -ton, kan-ton for 1–7; kan-ton, -tohn, or, esp. British, -toon for 8 ]

/ ˈkæn tn, -tɒn, kænˈtɒn for 1–7; kænˈtɒn, -ˈtoʊn, or, esp. British, -ˈtun for 8 /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR canton ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a small territorial district, especially one of the states of the Swiss confederation.

(in a department of France) a division of an arrondissement.

Heraldry. a square area in the dexter chief, or right-hand corner, of an escutcheon, often distinctively treated: a diminutive of the dexter chief quarter.

Architecture. a pilaster or similar feature projecting from the corner of a building.

Obsolete. a division, part, or portion of anything.

verb (used with object)

to divide into parts or portions.

to divide into cantons or territorial districts.

to allot quarters to (soldiers, troops, etc.).

Nearby words

canting arms, cantle, cantling, canto, canto fermo, canton, canton crepe, canton enamel, canton flannel, canton ginger, canton island

Origin of canton

1525–35; < Middle French < Old Provençal, derivative of can side, edge (see cant²)

Related forms

can·ton·al, adjectivecan·ton·al·ism, nounun·can·toned, adjective

Definition for canton (2 of 3)

Canton

[ kan-ton, kan-ton for 1; kan-tn for 2–5 ]

/ kænˈtɒn, ˈkæn tɒn for 1; ˈkæn tn for 2–5 /

noun

Also called Kwangchow, Guangzhou, Kuangchou. Older Spelling. a seaport in and the capital of Guangdong province, in SE China, on the Zhu Jiang.

a city in NE Ohio: location of the football Hall of Fame.

a city in E Massachusetts.

a city in W central Illinois.

a town in central Mississippi.

Definition for canton (3 of 3)

Guangdong

[ gwahng-dawng ]

/ ˈgwɑŋˈdɔŋ /

noun Pinyin.

a province in SE China. 89,344 sq. mi. (231,401 sq. km). Capital: Canton.

Also Kwangtung.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for canton

The Democrat's early voting edge in Stark means that they are confident of winning the cities of Canton, Massillon, and Alliance.
Nightmare Scenario—Ohio’s Provisional Ballots May Be 2012’s Hanging Chads|John Avlon|November 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The memory of 1912, Carlisle, and Canton was as fresh as yesterday in that pre-television era.
The Most Wonderful Athlete in the World: Jim Thorpe’s Story|Kate Buford|August 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In 1915 Thorpe started also playing and coaching the “reptile sport” of professional football in Canton, Ohio.
The Most Wonderful Athlete in the World: Jim Thorpe’s Story|Kate Buford|August 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“I am totally undecided,” says Ryan Ayers, an independent voter who lives in Canton, Ohio and who voted for John McCain in 2008.
Independents Are Growing in Number and Drifting Away From Obama|Linda Killian|December 9, 2011|DAILY BEAST

In an early 1990s, as a still-recent transplant to America, Huang drove from Tuscaloosa to Buffalo and passed Canton, Ohio.
The Legend of Charlie Chan|Paul Devlin|September 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The first mosque was built at Canton, where after several restorations, it still exists.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 2|Various
And can we doubt what would in that case have been the conduct of the Chinese authorities at Canton?
The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, Vol. 4 (of 4)|Thomas Babington Macaulay
On February 25, the British proceeded to attack the inner line of forts guarding the approaches to Canton.
A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year|Edwin Emerson
The time occupied in the entire transport by land and river, from the Bohea country to Canton, is about six weeks or two months.
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 442|Various
Thus in some of the valleys tributary to the Rhone in the canton Valais the following conditions occur.
Modern Geography|Marion I. Newbigin

British Dictionary definitions for canton (1 of 3)

canton

noun (ˈkæntɒn, kænˈtɒn)

any of the 23 political divisions of Switzerland

a subdivision of a French arrondissement

(ˈkæntən) heraldry a small square or oblong charge on a shield, usually in the top left corner

verb

(kænˈtɒn) (tr) to divide into cantons

(kənˈtuːn) (esp formerly) to allocate accommodation to (military personnel)

Derived Forms

cantonal, adjective

Word Origin for canton

C16: from Old French: corner, division, from Italian cantone, from canto corner, from Latin canthus iron rim; see cant ²

British Dictionary definitions for canton (2 of 3)

Canton

noun

(kænˈtɒn) a port in SE China, capital of Guangdong province, on the Zhu Jiang (Pearl River): the first Chinese port open to European trade. Pop: 3 881 000 (2005 est)Chinese names: Guangzhou, Kwangchow

(ˈkæntən) a city in the US, in NE Ohio. Pop: 80 806 (2000)

British Dictionary definitions for canton (3 of 3)

Guangdong

Kwangtung

/ (ˈɡwæŋˈdʊŋ) /

noun

a province of SE China, on the South China Sea: includes the Leizhou Peninsula, with densely populated river valleys; traditionally also including Macao and Hong Kong; the only true tropical climate in China. Capital: Canton. Pop: 79 540 000 (2003 est). Area: 197 100 sq km (76 100 sq miles)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

canton

noun

verb (used with object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of canton

Related forms

Definition for canton (2 of 3)

Canton

noun

Definition for canton (3 of 3)

Guangdong

noun Pinyin.

Examples from the Web for canton

British Dictionary definitions for canton (1 of 3)

canton

noun (ˈkæntɒn, kænˈtɒn)

verb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for canton

British Dictionary definitions for canton (2 of 3)

Canton

noun

British Dictionary definitions for canton (3 of 3)

Guangdong

Kwangtung

noun