Definition of "kana" []

• Japanese syllabic writing. The characters are simplified kanji and are usually used with kanji primarily to write inflections, particles, and function words and to show the pronunciations of some kanji and of all foreign words. (noun)
• Any of the characters used in this system. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Kurt Wimmer's style and ideas of gun kana is an interesting one, and it is the natural progression for those who master the weapons of their time."
• "A young participant takes a break after writing 'good friends' in Japanese kana characters during the New Year's calligraphy contest at the Budokan martial arts hall in Tokyo, Saturday,"
• "The situation's then very similar to Japanese kana, which is the main thing I've heard called a moraic script."