sugarcane
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of sugarcane
Explanation
Sugarcane is a tall, grassy plant that's used to make sugar. The majority of sugarcane is grown in Brazil. Most of the world's sugar is produced from sugarcane — and in recent years, that's meant a total of about 1.8 billion tons of harvested sugarcane annually. Special factories process the cut cane, extracting sugar crystals from inside its stalks, then evaporating moisture from the crystals to create fine, white table sugar. Other sugar products come from sugarcane as well, including molasses and cane syrup.
Vocabulary lists containing sugarcane
Central America and the Caribbean - Introductory
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Central America and the Caribbean - Middle School and High School
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Chapter 15: African Civilizations
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The government has blamed lower sugarcane production linked to reduced rainfall during El Niño, hoarding and tighter global supplies after adverse weather hit other major producers.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
These included a cognac label, a tequila brand, and three rhum agricole, or sugarcane juice rums, labels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
The woman crouches, coaxing the animal with sweet compliments and a stick of sugarcane she brought with her.
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
A new type of artificial saliva, delivered as a mouthwash and made using a lab-modified sugarcane protein called CANECPI-5, could help protect the teeth of patients with head and neck cancer.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 5, 2026
She took a bath in a spring to wash away her tears, and a Great Spirit appeared to her with armfuls of sugarcane and rice.
From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
