canton

¹ American  

[kan-tn, -ton, kan-ton, kan-ton, -tohn, -toon] / ˈkæn tn, -tɒn, kænˈtɒn, kænˈtɒn, -ˈtoʊn, -ˈtun /

noun

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

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

3. 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.

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

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

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verb (used with object)

1. to divide into parts or portions.

2. to divide into cantons or territorial districts.

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

Canton ² American  

[kan-ton, kan-ton, kan-tn] / kænˈtɒn, ˈkæn tɒn, ˈkæn tn /

noun

1. (Older Spelling) Kwangchow.  (Wade-Giles) Kuangchou.  (Pinyin) Guangzhou.  Older Spelling. a seaport in and the capital of Guangdong province, in southeastern China, on the Zhu Jiang.

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

3. a city in eastern Massachusetts.

4. a city in western central Illinois.

5. a town in central Mississippi.

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canton ¹ British  

noun

1. any of the 23 political divisions of Switzerland

2. a subdivision of a French arrondissement

3. heraldry a small square or oblong charge on a shield, usually in the top left corner

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verb

1. (tr) to divide into cantons

2. (esp formerly) to allocate accommodation to (military personnel)

Canton ² British  

noun

1. Chinese names: Guangzhou.   Kwangchow.  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)

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

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Other Word Forms

• cantonal adjective
• cantonalism noun
• uncantoned adjective

Etymology

Origin of canton

1525–35; < Middle French < Old Provençal, derivative of can side, edge ( cant ² )

Example Sentences

Recent snows have also led to evacuations of several communities in Switzerland and northern Italy, as well as power outages and a train derailment at Goppenstein in the south-western Swiss canton of Valais.

From BBC

The Compulsory Measures Court in Wallis canton said in a statement it had duly "lifted the detention in custody" at a hearing on Friday.

From Barron's

The Swiss canton of Valais has now banned pyrotechnic devices in all indoor public venues.

From BBC

The Swiss canton of Valais has banned pyrotechnic devices in all indoor public venues following the devastating fire at a bar on New Year's Eve where 40 people were killed and 116 were injured.

From BBC

There are already calls for fire-safety inspection in Valais canton to be taken away from local town councils and given to the cantonal authorities.

From BBC