cant

• Substantiv mit mehreren Bedeutungen: bezeichnet heuchlerisches oder unaufrichtiges Gerede, besonders über Religion oder Moral; eine Fachsprache oder Gruppensprache; oder eine Schrägung, Neigung, z. B. einer Straße oder Fläche.

A noun with multiple meanings: it can refer to hypocritical or insincere talk, especially about religion or morals; the specialized language of a particular group; or a slope or tilt, such as on a road or surface.

1. Hypocritical or insincere talkC1formal

   Stock phrases that have become meaningless through excessive repetition, often used to sound moral or pious without genuine feeling.

   Heuchlerisches oder unaufrichtiges Gerede

   • The politician's speech was full of cant about family values.
   • He dismissed their moralizing as mere cant.
   • The sermon was nothing but religious cant.

   Synonymedrivelempty talkhumbughypocrisyinsinceritypretensesanctimonyshamtwaddle

   Antonymehonestysinceritytruthfulness

2. Slang or jargon of a groupC1informal

   A characteristic language of a particular group, such as thieves or a subculture, used to communicate secretly or to identify members.

   Jargon

   • The thieves used cant to avoid being understood by the police.
   • The book explains the cant of the London underworld.
   • Teenagers often develop their own cant.

   Synonymeargotdialectidiomjargonlingoparlancepatoisslangvernacular

3. Angular slope or tiltC2formal

   A slope or tilt, especially on a road or track where the outside edge is higher than the inside to counteract centrifugal force.

   Neigung

   • The racing track has a steep cant on the curves.
   • Engineers calculated the optimal cant for the railway bend.
   • The road's cant helps vehicles maintain speed through the turn.

   Synonymebankinclineslantslopetilt

4. Beveled edge or angleC2formal

   A surface or edge that is cut at an angle, typically where two surfaces meet at an angle other than 90 degrees.

   Schräge

   • The carpenter cut a cant on the edge of the wooden beam.
   • The stone block has a precise cant for the corner of the building.
   • A cant is often used in architecture for decorative molding.

   Synonymebevelchamferslantslope

• Verb, das bedeutet, etwas zu neigen oder schräg zu stellen; außerdem bezeichnet es heuchlerisches oder unaufrichtiges Reden, besonders über Religion oder Moral.

A verb meaning to tilt, slant, or be at an angle; also used to describe hypocritical or insincere talk, especially about religion or morals.

1. Tilt or heel overB2formal

   To tilt or lean to one side, especially of a ship or vehicle.

   Kippen

   • The ship began to cant dangerously in the storm.
   • He canted the ladder against the wall.
   • The car canted sharply as it took the corner.

   Synonymecareenheelinclineleanlistslanttilttip

   Antonymelevelright

Phrasal-Variantencant over