noun
cannon
KAN-uhn
noun
1
A large, mounted gun that fires heavy projectiles, historically used in warfare.
"The fort's old cannons still point out over the harbor."
verb
1
To collide with something violently.
"The runner cannoned into a defender and both went sprawling."
2
To bombard something with cannon fire.
"The ships cannoned the coastal defenses for hours."
How to Use Cannon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large gun for firing heavy shells, or to crash into something with force.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "canon" (an accepted set of rules or works) — same sound, completely different meaning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
fire a cannon
cannon fire
cannon into
Word Forms
cannoned past tense, Cannons plural, cannons singular
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The fort's old _____ still point out over the harbor.
Etymology
From Old French canon, from Italian cannone, from Latin canna ("reed"), ultimately from Ancient Greek and Akkadian words for reed. A doublet of "canyon."