can

¹

[kan, kuhn]

auxiliary verb

present-singular-1st-person

can ,

second-person

can ,

second-person

canst ,

third-person

can ,

present-plural

can ,

past-singular-1st-person

could ,

second-person

could ,

second-person

couldst ,

third-person

could ,

past-plural

could .

1. to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to.

   She can solve the problem easily, I'm sure.

2. to know how to.

   He can play chess, although he's not particularly good at it.

3. to have the power or means to.

   A dictator can impose his will on the people.

4. to have the right or qualifications to.

   He can change whatever he wishes in the script.

5. may; have permission to.

   Can I speak to you for a moment?

6. to have the possibility.

   A coin can land on either side.

verb (used with or without object)

present-singular-1st-person

can ,

second-person

can ,

second-person

canst ,

third-person

can ,

present-plural

can ,

past-singular-1st-person

could ,

second-person

could ,

second-person

couldst ,

third-person

could ,

past-plural

could ,

imperative

can ,

infinitive

can ,

past-participle

could ,

present-participle

cunning .

1. Obsolete.,  to know.

can

²

[kan]

noun

1. a sealed container for food, beverages, etc., as of aluminum, sheet iron coated with tin, or other metal.

   a can of soup.

2. a receptacle for garbage, ashes, etc..

   a trash can.

3. a bucket, pail, or other container for holding or carrying liquids.

   water can.

4. a drinking cup; tankard.

5. a metal or plastic container for holding film on cores or reels.

6. Slang: Usually Vulgar.,  toilet; bathroom.

7. Slang.,  jail.

   He's been in the can for a week.

8. Slang: Sometimes Vulgar.,  buttocks.

9. Slang.,  cans, a set of headphones designed to cover the ears.

10. Military Slang.

    1. a depth charge.

    2. a destroyer.

verb (used with object)

canned, canning 

1. to preserve by sealing in a can, jar, etc.

2. Slang.,  to dismiss; fire.

3. Slang.,  to throw (something) away.

4. Slang.,  to put a stop to.

   Can that noise!

5. to record, as on film or tape.

can.

³

abbreviation

1. canceled.

2. canon.

3. canto.

Can.

⁴

abbreviation

1. Canada.

2. Canadian.

can

¹

/ kæn /

noun

1. a container, esp for liquids, usually of thin sheet metal

   a petrol can

   beer can

2. another name (esp US) for tin

3. Also called: canful. the contents of a can or the amount a can will hold

4. a slang word for prison

5. a slang word for toilet or buttocks See toilet

6. navy a slang word for destroyer

7. slang,  navy a depth charge

8. a shallow cylindrical metal container of varying size used for storing and handling film

9. informal,  a complicated problem

10. See carry

11. 1. (of a film, piece of music, etc) having been recorded, processed, edited, etc

    2. informal,  arranged or agreed

       the contract is almost in the can

verb

1. to put (food, etc) into a can or cans; preserve in a can

2. slang,  (tr) to dismiss from a job

3. informal,  (tr) to stop (doing something annoying or making an annoying noise) (esp in the phrase can it! )

4. informal,  (tr) to reject or discard

can

²

/ kæn, kən /

verb

1. used as an auxiliary to indicate ability, skill, or fitness to perform a task

   I can run a mile in under four minutes

2. used as an auxiliary to indicate permission or the right to something

   can I have a drink?

3. used as an auxiliary to indicate knowledge of how to do something

   he can speak three languages fluently

4. used as an auxiliary to indicate the possibility, opportunity, or likelihood

   my trainer says I can win the race if I really work hard

Can.

³

abbreviation

1. Canada

2. Canadian

Usage

Can but and cannot but are formal and now somewhat old-fashioned expressions suggesting that there is no possible alternative to doing something. Can but is equivalent to can only: We can but do our best. Cannot but is the equivalent of cannot help but: We cannot but protest against these injustices. See also help.

Confusables Note

Can1 and may1 are frequently but not always interchangeable in senses indicating possibility: A power failure can (or may ) occur at any time. Despite the insistence by some, that can means only “to be able” and may means “to be permitted,” both are regularly used in seeking or granting permission: Can (or May ) I borrow your glue gun? You can (or may ) use it tomorrow. Sentences using can occur chiefly in spoken English. May in this sense occurs more frequently in formal contexts: May I address the court, Your Honor? In negative constructions, can't or cannot is more common than may not : You can't have it today. I need it myself. The contraction mayn't is rare.

Word History and Origins

Origin of can¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English, present indicative singular 1st, 3rd person of cunnan “to know, know how”; cognate with German, Old Norse, Gothic kann; ken, know ¹

Origin of can²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English canne, can(e), Old English canne, cognate with German Kanne, Old Norse kanna, all perhaps from West Germanic; compare Late Latin canna “small vessel”

Word History and Origins

Origin of can¹

Old English canne; related to Old Norse, Old High German kanna, Irish gann, Swedish kana sled

Origin of can²

Old English cunnan; related to Old Norse kunna, Old High German kunnan, Latin cognōscere to know, Sanskrit jānāti he knows; see _ken , _uncouth

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. carry the can, to take the responsibility.

2. in the can, recorded on film; completed.

   The movie is in the can and ready for release.

More idioms and phrases containing can

• as best one can
• before you can say Jack Robinson
• bite off more than one can chew
• can't
• carry the can
• catch as catch can
• game that two can play
• get the ax (can)
• in the can
• more than one can shake a stick at
• no can do
• you can bet your ass
• you can lead a horse to water
• you can say that again
• you never can tell

Example Sentences

Aishe has been preparing for her next life since she arrived in New York, getting stronger, smarter, faster, so that she can make the leap to an existence that’s more comfortable, safer, more abundant.

From Los Angeles Times

That staggering scene alone could render this a career-best performance for O’Brien given its vulnerability.

From Los Angeles Times

Holland, on the heels of his stellar turn in the underappreciated character study “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” can make you forget how little we know of Roger’s background, so magnetic is his prickly, awkward emotional confusion.

From Los Angeles Times

He concluded the owner of the accountancy firm wanted to dismiss Ms Lanuszka before she had accrued two years' service, the time at which workers can claim unfair dismissal under UK law.

From BBC

But speaking at her party's UK conference in Birmingham, Laura Anne Jones questioned whether the Welsh Parliament should continue if Reform could not make it "work for Wales".

From BBC

Related Words

• bottle 
• bucket 
• canister 
• jar 
• package