ratoon
or rat·toon
[ ra-toon ]
/ ræˈtun /
noun
a sprout or shoot from the root of a plant, especially a sugarcane, after it has been cropped.
verb (used with or without object)
to put forth or cause to put forth ratoons.
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Origin of ratoon
OTHER WORDS FROM ratoon
ra·toon·er, nounWords nearby ratoon
ratite, rat-kangaroo, ratline, RATO, rat on, ratoon, rat pack, rat race, rat-running, rats, ratsbane
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for ratoon
The first crop is called the "plant" crop, and those that follow are known as "ratoon" crops, the latter continuing several years.
Under the Southern Cross|Maturin M. BallouThe first is called plant cane; the second is known as first-year stubble, or ratoon.
Agriculture for Beginners|Charles William BurkettThey are called here, though I do not know why, ratoon oysters.
Letters of a Traveller|William Cullen Bryant
British Dictionary definitions for ratoon
ratoon
rattoon
/ (ræˈtuːn) /
noun
a new shoot that grows from near the root or crown of crop plants, esp the sugar cane, after the old growth has been cut back
verb
to propagate or cause to propagate by such a growth
Word Origin for ratoon
C18: from Spanish retoño young shoot, from re- + otoñar to sprout in autumn, from otoño autumn
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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