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/
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.
verb (used with object)
6.
to divide into parts or portions.
7.
to divide into cantons or territorial districts.
8.
to allot quarters to (soldiers, troops, etc.).
Origin
1525-35; < Middle French < Old Provençal, derivative of can side, edge (see cant2)
Related forms
cantonal, adjective
cantonalism, noun
uncantoned, adjective

Canton

[kan-ton, kan-ton for 1; kan-tn for 2–5] /kænˈtɒn, ˈkæn tɒn for 1; ˈkæn tn for 2–5/
noun
1.
Also called Kwangchow, Guangzhou, Kuangchou. Older Spelling. a seaport in and the capital of Guangdong province, in SE China, on the Zhu Jiang.
2.
a city in NE Ohio: location of the football Hall of Fame.
3.
a city in E Massachusetts.
4.
a city in W central Illinois.
5.
a town in central Mississippi.

Guangdong

[gwahng-dawng] /ˈgwɑŋˈdɔŋ/
noun, Pinyin.
1.
a province in SE China. 89,344 sq. mi. (231,401 sq. km).
Capital: Canton.
Also, Kwangtung.
Examples from the web for canton
  • It is the capital of the canton of lucerne and seat of the district with the same name.
British Dictionary definitions for canton

canton

noun (ˈkæntɒn; kænˈtɒn)
1.
any of the 23 political divisions of Switzerland
2.
a subdivision of a French arrondissement
3.
(heraldry) (ˈkæntən). a small square or oblong charge on a shield, usually in the top left corner
verb
4.
(transitive) (kænˈtɒn). to divide into cantons
5.
(kənˈtuːn). (esp formerly) to allocate accommodation to (military personnel)
Derived Forms
cantonal, adjective
Word Origin
C16: from Old French: corner, division, from Italian cantone, from canto corner, from Latin canthus iron rim; see cant²

Canton

noun
1.
(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
2.
(ˈkæntən). a city in the US, in NE Ohio. Pop: 80 806 (2000)

Guangdong

/ˈɡwæŋˈdʊŋ/
noun
1.
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)
Word Origin and History for canton
n.

1530s, "corner, angle," from Middle French canton "piece, portion of a country" (13c.), from Italian (Lombard dialect) cantone "region," especially in the mountains, augmentative of Latin canto "section of a country," literally "corner" (see cant (n.2)). Originally in English a term in heraldry and flag descriptions; applied to the sovereign states of the Swiss republic from 1610s. Related: Cantoned.