tin
n
1 a metallic element, occurring in cassiterite, that has several allotropes; the ordinary malleable silvery-white metal slowly changes below 13.2°C to a grey powder. It is used extensively in alloys, esp. bronze and pewter, and as a noncorroding coating for steel. Symbol: Sn; atomic no.: 50; atomic wt.: 118.710; valency: 2 or 4; relative density: 5.75 (grey), 7.31 (white); melting pt.: 231.9°C; boiling pt.: 2603°C
Related adjs →
stannic →
stannous
2 (Also called (esp. U.S. and Canadian))
can an airtight sealed container of thin sheet metal coated with tin, used for preserving and storing food or drink
3 any container made of metallic tin
4 ♦
fill her tins (N.Z.) to complete a home baking of cakes, biscuits, etc.
5 (Also called)
tinful the contents of a tin or the amount a tin will hold
6 (Brit., Austral., and N.Z.) corrugated or galvanized iron
a tin roof
7 any metal regarded as cheap or flimsy
8 (Brit) a loaf of bread with a rectangular shape, baked in a tin
9 Slang money
vb , tins, tinning, tinned tr
10 to put (food, etc.) into a tin or tins; preserve in a tin
11 to plate or coat with tin
12 to prepare (a metal) for soldering or brazing by applying a thin layer of solder to the surface (Old English; related to Old Norse tin, Old High German zin) ♦
tinlike adj
ash can
n a U.S. word for →
dustbin (Also called)
garbage can, ash bin, trash can
Ash Can School
n a group of U.S. painters including Robert Henri and later George Bellows, founded in 1907, noted for their depiction of the sordid aspects of city life
can [1] (unstressed)
vb past , could takes an infinitive without: to or an implied infinitive, used as an auxiliary
1 to indicate ability, skill, or fitness to perform a task
I can run a mile in under four minutes
2 to indicate permission or the right to something
can I have a drink?
3 to indicate knowledge of how to do something
he can speak three languages fluently
4 to indicate the possibility, opportunity, or likelihood
my trainer says I can win the race if I really work hard
(Old English cunnan; related to Old Norse kunna, Old High German kunnan, Latin cognoscere to know, Sanskrit janati he knows; see ken, uncouth)
See at may
can [2]
n
1 a container, esp. for liquids, usually of thin sheet metal
a petrol can, beer can
2 another name (esp. U.S.) for rin (metal container)
3 (Also called)
canful the contents of a can or the amount a can will hold
4 a slang word for →
prison
5 (U.S. and Canadian) a slang word for →
toilet →
buttocks
6 (U.S. navy) a slang word for →
destroyer
7 (Naval, slang) a depth charge
8 a shallow cylindrical metal container of varying size used for storing and handling film
9 ♦
can of worms
Informal a complicated problem
a (of a film, piece of music, etc.) having been recorded, processed, edited, etc.
b Informal arranged or agreed
the contract is almost in the can
11 ♦
carry the can See →
carry →
37
vb , cans, canning, canned
12 to put (food, etc.) into a can or cans; preserve in a can
13 tr (U.S.)
slang to dismiss from a job
14 tr (U.S.)
informal to stop (doing something annoying or making an annoying noise) (esp. in the phrase can it!)
(Old English canne; related to Old Norse, Old High German kanna, Irish gann, Swedish kana sled)
can.
abbrev. for
Can.
abbrev. for
can buoy
n (Nautical) a buoy with a flat-topped cylindrical shape above water, marking the left side of a channel leading into a harbour: red in British waters but green (occasionally black) in U.S. waters
Compare →
nun buoy
can-opener
n another name for →
tin-opener
can't
vb contraction of cannot
Can Tho
n a town in S Vietnam, on the River Mekong. Pop.: 215587 (1992 est.)
catch-as-catch-can
n
1 a style of wrestling in which trips, holds below the waist, etc., are allowed
adj
adv
2 (Chiefly U.S. and Canadian) using any method or opportunity that comes to hand
garbage can
n a U.S. and Canadian name for →
dustbin (Also called)
ash bin, ash can, trash can
jerry can
n a flat-sided can with a capacity of between 4.5 and 5 gallons used for storing or transporting liquids, esp. motor fuel: originally a German design adopted by the British Army during World War II
(C20: from Jerry)
tin can
n a metal food container, esp. when empty
trash can
n a U.S. name for →
dustbin (Also called)
ash can, garbage can
watering can
n a container with a handle and a spout with a perforated nozzle used to sprinkle water over plants