Chicane

/ʃɪˈkeɪn/ · noun

Meaning

A quibble, a pedantic or dishonest objection; an act of deception..

Definitions by Sense

1. A quibble, a pedantic or dishonest objection; an act of deception.
2. The use of dishonest means or subterfuge to achieve one's (especially political) goals; chicanery, trickery.
3. (card games, chiefly bridge) The holding of a hand without trumps, or the hand itself.
4. (motor racing) A sharp double bend on a racecourse, designed to prevent unsafe speeds; an obstacle creating a curve.
5. (road transport) A raised area or other obstacle around which vehicles must drive, especially designed to reduce speed.
6. (intransitive) To use chicanery, tricks, or subterfuge.
7. (transitive) To deceive.

Example Sentences

1775, Edmund Burke, speech on conciliation with America In this character of the Americans, a love of freedom is the predominating feature which marks and distinguishes the whole; and as an ardent is always a jealous affection, your Colonies become suspicious, restive, and untractable whenever they see the least attempt to wrest from them by force, or shuffle from them by chicane, what they think the only advantage worth living for.

‘That they may be unlearned in the detestable chicane of politics, is certain; but, they are also uncorrupted by the odious and pernicious maxims of the unfeeling tools of despotism.’

On lap 23, Hamilton got a run on Leclerc into the second chicane after the two had overtaken Nico Hulkenberg's out-of-stop-sequence Renault down the main straight.

Synonyms for chicane

Antonyms for chicane

Related Words

Word Forms

• chicanes
• chicaning
• chicaned

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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