cannon
gb/kˈænən/ us/kˈænən/
B2
English
~ 9600
ágyú, lepattan, karambol, bomba, bombalövés, kánon
NOUN
B2
1
ágyú
A2
Usage pattern:
a cannon on [a ship/a wall/a tank]
The old fortress still has cannons pointing out toward the sea.
A régi erődben még mindig a tenger felé irányított ágyúk állnak.
As the battle began, the sound of cannons echoed across the valley.
Amikor elkezdődött a csata, az ágyúk hangja visszhangzott a völgyben.
The ship's cannons were loaded and ready to fire at the approaching enemy.
In the museum we saw a massive 18th‑century cannon taken from a warship.
Modern tanks use a powerful cannon as their main weapon.
Learner examples
The soldiers fired a cannon at the wall.
A katonák ágyúval lőttek a falra.
There is an old cannon in front of the castle.
A kastély előtt egy régi ágyú áll.
The tank has a big cannon on top.
We heard the cannon and saw smoke in the sky.
They used many cannons in the war.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "cannon" (a big gun) with "canon" (a rule or an official list). Remember that the weapon has two n's: caNNON.
Meaning
large heavy gun for firing shells
Collocations
load the cannon
|fire the cannon
|cannon fire
|ship's cannons
|tank cannon
|anti-aircraft cannon
Synonyms
artillery piece (More technical and formal, used mainly in military language for large guns like cannons.)
Antonyms
handgun (Refers to a small gun held in one hand, contrasting with a large, mounted cannon.)
Themes
war
|weapons
|history
|politics
Definition
A very big, heavy gun that shoots large bullets or shells, often used in war or on old ships and forts.
A large, heavy gun, usually mounted on wheels or fixed in position, used to fire solid or explosive projectiles over a distance, especially in war.
VERB
C1
2
lepattan
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] cannons off [something]
The ball cannoned off the post and back into play.
A labda lepattant a kapufáról, és visszakerült játékba.
Her shot cannoned off the crossbar and flew into the stands.
A lövése lepattant a keresztlécről, és a lelátóra szállt.
The snooker ball cannoned off the cushion and struck the red.
The runaway trolley cannoned into a parked car before coming to rest.
A piece of debris cannoned off the wall and nearly hit the referee.
Learner examples
The ball cannoned off the wall and hit my leg.
A labda lepattant a falról, és eltalálta a lábamat.
His shot cannoned off the post and did not go in.
A lövése lepattant a kapufáról, és nem ment be.
The car slid on the ice and cannoned into a tree.
In the game, the white ball cannoned off another ball.
The toy train cannoned off the table and fell down.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use "cannon" only as a noun. As a verb, it usually describes a ball, vehicle, or object hitting something with force and bouncing away, often in sports commentary.
Meaning
hit something and bounce off
Collocations
cannon off the post
|cannon off the bar
|cannon into the crowd
|cannon into another car
|cannon off the wall
Synonyms
ricochet (More formal and often used for bullets or shrapnel, but describes the same kind of hitting and bouncing movement.)
Antonyms
stop (If something stops when it hits a surface, it does not bounce or continue moving like something that cannons off it.)
Themes
sports
|movement
|transportation
Definition
To hit something very hard and then move away again, usually when a ball or another moving thing hits a surface or another object.
To crash into something with great force and then bounce off it, often while still moving quickly, especially of a ball or vehicle.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
karambol
C1
Usage pattern:
to make/play [a] cannon
He made a difficult cannon to land perfect position on the black.
Nehéz karambolt játszott, hogy tökéletes pozícióba kerüljön a feketére.
The frame was won with a clever cannon that opened up the pack of reds.
A frémet egy ügyes karambollal nyerte meg, amely szétnyitotta a pirosak csomóját.
She tried a long cannon but the cue ball just missed the second ball.
A fluke cannon left him snookered behind the green.
The commentator praised the delicate cannon that set up the winning break.
Learner examples
He played a cannon and hit two balls.
Karambolt játszott, és két golyót talált el.
She won the point with a lucky cannon.
Szerencsés karambollal nyerte a pontot.
The player tried a cannon but hit only one ball.
That cannon gave him a good shot on the black.
In this game you can score by making a cannon.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "cannon" in this sense is the same as the big gun. In billiards or snooker, "a cannon" is a special kind of shot, not a weapon.
Meaning
cue‑ball shot hitting two balls
Collocations
make a cannon
|play a cannon
|a lucky cannon
|a long cannon
|a perfect cannon
Synonyms
carom (More common in American English for this type of shot, while "cannon" is used especially in British cue‑sports terms.)
Antonyms
direct pot (A shot where the cue ball hits only one ball straight into a pocket, the opposite of a multi‑ball contact like a cannon.)
Themes
games
|sports
Definition
In games like billiards or snooker, a shot where the white ball hits one ball and then hits another ball.
In billiards and some cue sports, a shot in which the cue ball strikes one object ball and then another without being pocketed.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
4
bomba
B2
bombalövés
C1
Usage pattern:
hit/fire [a] cannon into [the goal/the net]
He scored with a cannon from thirty yards out.
Harminc yardról egy bombával szerzett gólt.
The defender unleashed a right‑footed cannon into the top corner.
A védő jobb lábbal hatalmas bombát küldött a felső sarokba.
Her cannon from the edge of the box left the goalkeeper with no chance.
The crowd roared as his cannon rattled the crossbar.
Commentators replayed the cannon over and over on the big screen.
Learner examples
He hit a cannon and scored a goal.
Megeresztett egy bombát, és gólt szerzett.
She fired a cannon into the net.
Bombát lőtt a hálóba.
The player’s cannon was too strong for the keeper.
That cannon from far away was amazing.
The crowd loved his left‑footed cannon.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this always refers to the weapon. In sports, especially in commentary, "a cannon" often just means a very powerful shot or kick.
Meaning
very powerful shot or kick
Collocations
hit a cannon
|a left‑footed cannon
|a cannon from distance
|a cannon into the top corner
|an absolute cannon
Synonyms
rocket (Informal sports slang for a very powerful shot, similar in strength but with more emphasis on speed and surprise.)
Antonyms
soft shot (A weak, slow attempt that contrasts with the power and speed suggested by "a cannon".)
Themes
sports
Definition
A very strong and fast shot or kick of a ball in a game.
A very powerful and fast shot, kick, or hit of a ball, especially in sports commentary.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
5
ágyú
C1
Usage pattern:
move the cannon to [a square/a file]
He advanced his cannon to put pressure on the opponent’s general.
Előretolta az ágyúját, hogy nyomás alá helyezze az ellenfél tábornokát.
The opening featured an aggressive central cannon aimed at the enemy camp.
A megnyitásban egy támadó központi ágyú az ellenséges táborra irányult.
Losing a cannon early in xiangqi can weaken your attack.
She used both cannons to create a powerful double attack on the palace.
In xiangqi notation, the cannon is often marked with a special symbol.
Learner examples
In Chinese chess, the cannon is a strong piece.
A kínai sakkban az ágyú erős bábu.
He moved his cannon to attack the other side.
Előretolta az ágyúját, hogy támadja az ellenfelet.
If you lose a cannon, it is hard to win.
She uses her cannon to give check to the general.
The coach showed us how the cannon moves.
Meaning
cannon piece in Chinese chess
Collocations
move the cannon
|advance the cannon
|central cannon opening
|double cannon attack
Synonyms
pao (The transliterated Chinese name of the same piece; used in more specialized xiangqi discussions.)
Themes
games
|culture
|arts_entertainment
Definition
In Chinese chess, a special piece that moves in straight lines but must jump over one piece to take another piece.
In xiangqi (Chinese chess), a piece that moves like a rook but captures by jumping over exactly one intervening piece.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
6
kánon
C2
Usage pattern:
set [text] in cannon
The title was set in cannon to dominate the front page.
A címet kánon fokozatban szedték, hogy uralja a címlapot.
Early printers sometimes used cannon for Bibles and other important works.
A korai nyomdászok néha kánont használtak Bibliákhoz és más fontos művekhez.
He specialized in casting large display sizes such as cannon and double‑cannon.
Only a few foundries still offer fonts in cannon size.
The old specimen book listed cannon among its largest sizes of type.
Learner examples
The printer used cannon for the main title.
A nyomdász kánont használt a főcímhez.
In the past, books sometimes used cannon for big headings.
Régen a könyvekben néha kánont használtak a nagy címsorokhoz.
Cannon is a name for a very big size of letters.
Modern printers do not often use cannon type.
He showed us a page printed in cannon.
Meaning
very large traditional type size
Collocations
cannon type
|set in cannon
|large cannon letters
Synonyms
large type (A general modern description; it does not refer to the exact historical size called "cannon".)
Antonyms
small type (Refers to letters of a much smaller size, the opposite of the very large type size "cannon".)
Themes
printing
|typography
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Definition
An old printing word for a very big size of letters made of metal.
A very large size of metal type formerly used in traditional letterpress printing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cannon
IPA
GB/kˈænən/
US/kˈænən/
Syllables & stress
can - non (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (can)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cannon
- Plural: cannon, cannons
Word family
Forms
cannons
noun
Core family
cannonball
noun B1
Advanced or less common
cannoneer
noun
cannonade
noun
Expressions
cannon fodder
1/kˈænən fˈɑdɚ/
idiom
people treated as expendable in war
Soldiers or other people who are treated as if their lives are not important and are sent into very dangerous situations where many will die.
Examples
- Poorly trained troops were used as cannon fodder on the front lines.
- Critics say the workers are treated like cannon fodder in the company’s cost‑cutting plans.
- The film shows young recruits being sent in as cannon fodder with little hope of survival.
cannon into
1/kˈænən ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
crash hard into something
To hit someone or something very hard while you are moving, often by accident.
Examples
- The striker cannoned into the goalkeeper while chasing the loose ball.
- A cyclist lost control and cannoned into a group of pedestrians.
- The trolley cannoned into the shelves, sending products flying everywhere.
cannon off
1/kˈænən ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
hit a surface and bounce away
To hit a surface very hard and then move away quickly in another direction.
Examples
- The ball cannoned off the bar and out of play.
- A stone cannoned off the window but luckily did not break it.
- His shot cannoned off the defender and wrong‑footed the keeper.
loose cannon
1/lˈus kˈænən/
idiom
informal
uncontrolled, unpredictable person
A person who cannot be controlled and who may suddenly do or say something that causes problems for others.
Examples
- He’s a bit of a loose cannon, so you never know what he’ll say in meetings.
- The coach called the striker a loose cannon after his angry comments to the press.
- They worry she could be a loose cannon if she joins the leadership team.