What does "rattan" mean?
Any of several species of climbing palm of the genus Calamus.
Rattan
/ɹəˈtæn/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of several species of climbing palm of the genus Calamus.
- Grammar: rattan is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: rattan cane, basketry, calamus rotang, cane.
- Useful contrasts: metallic, metalwork, plastic.
- Usage evidence: Pretty much any thin, pliable material can be used to make wicker furniture, but many prefer those made with willow or rattan to plastic.
How to use "rattan"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rattan" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rattan" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "rattan" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rattan" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rattan" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "rattan cane" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "rattan", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of several species of climbing palm of the genus Calamus. countable, uncountable
- 2 a switch made from the stems of the rattan palms wordnet
- 3 The plant used as a material for making furniture, baskets etc. uncountable
"It took Elwood an hour to find Mr. Gladwell, who sat in a big rattan chair at the edge of the sweet potato fields."
- 4 the stem of various climbing palms of the genus Calamus and related genera used to make wickerwork and furniture and canes wordnet
- 5 A cane made from this material. broadly, countable, uncountable
"He who first acts as striker asks the other how many blows of the rattan he will bear on his forearm without crying out."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 climbing palm of Sri Lanka and southern India remarkable for the great length of the stems which are used for malacca canes wordnet
Verb
- 1 To beat with a rattan cane. transitive
"Meanwhile Captain Colville rattaned Pearson very severely […]"
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Pretty much any thin, pliable material can be used to make wicker furniture, but many prefer those made with willow or rattan to plastic."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rattan"?
Common synonyms include: rattan cane, basketry, calamus rotang, cane, cane-based, cane-like.
How do you use "rattan" in a sentence?
Pretty much any thin, pliable material can be used to make wicker furniture, but many prefer those made with willow or rattan to plastic.
How do you pronounce "rattan"?
Pronounced /ɹəˈtæn/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Malay rotan.