katakana

[kah-tuh-kah-nuh; Japanese kah-tah-kah-nah] /ˌkɑ təˈkɑ nə; Japanese ˈkɑ tɑˈkɑ nɑ/
noun
1.
the more angular, less commonly used of the two Japanese syllabaries.
Compare hiragana.
Origin
1720-30; < Japanese, equivalent to kata part (of kanji) + kana kana
Examples from the web for katakana
  • Kana is, itself, composed of two alphabets called hiragana and katakana.
British Dictionary definitions for katakana

katakana

/ˌkɑːtəˈkɑːnə/
noun
1.
one of the two systems of syllabic writing employed for the representation of Japanese, based on Chinese ideograms. It is used mainly for foreign or foreign-derived words
Word Origin
Japanese, from kata side + kana
Word Origin and History for katakana
n.

from Japanese katakana, from kata "side" + kana "borrowed letter(s)."

katakana in Technology

Japanese
The square-formed Japanese kana syllabary. Katakana is mostly used to write foreign names, foreign words, and loan words as well as many onomatopeia, plant and animal names.
(2001-03-18)