Definition of can - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
metal containerUS container typically used for holding liquids or foodUS
- She opened a can of soup for dinner..
2.
wateringUS container for carrying water to plantsUS
- She used a can to water the flowers.
3.
- He went to the can during the break..
4.
- He bought a can from his friend.
5.
storageDated US container for storing filmDated US
- The old movie reels were kept in a can.
6.
- He was thrown in the can for theft..
7.
- He put on his cans to listen to music.
8.
maritimeTECH. US cylindrical buoy marking port-sideTECH. US
- The ship passed the green can safely.
9.
militaryDated US depth charge used in naval warfareDated US
- The submarine evaded the can dropped by the destroyer.
10.
nuclear energyTECH. protective cover in nuclear reactorsTECH.
- The fuel rods were placed in a can.
11.
ScientologyTECH. US E-meter in ScientologyTECH. US
- The auditor used cans during the session.
Auxiliary verb
1.
rulesshow permission or right
- You can leave early today.
2.
chanceshow that something is possible
- It can rain later this evening.
3.
perceptionshow what someone notices with senses
- I can hear music from outside.
4.
talentshow ability or skill
- She can swim across the lake.
5.
mannersmake polite requests or offers
- Can you help me with this?
Verb
1.
cookingUS preserve food by heating and sealing it in a containerUS
- They can peaches every August.
2.
- We canned the proposal after the budget cuts.
3.
- The company canned two managers last week.
4.
packingput something into a metal container and seal it
- The factory cans soup every day.
5.
golfTECH. hit the ball into the holeTECH.
- She canned a long putt on the final hole.
6.
nuclearTECH. cover a reactor fuel part with a protective layerTECH.
- Engineers canned the fuel element before testing.
Images of can

container typically used for holding liquids or food 
container for carrying water to plants 
container for storing film 
cylindrical buoy marking port-side 
depth charge used in naval warfare 
protective cover in nuclear reactors
Expressions with can
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stop talking or doing something immediately
Can it, we're trying to concentrate.
with maximum effort or intensity
They ran as hard as they can to catch the last bus.
feel very excited or impatient for something to happen
I can hardly wait for the concert tomorrow!
expresses uncertainty about future events or outcomes
You never can tell what will happen next.
asking about someone's abilities or options
If you finish early, what can you do next?
indicates inability to know something
Who can tell why she left so suddenly?
expresses uncertainty about future events or outcomes
You can never tell what the weather will be like.
used to give someone permission to speak
You can talk now, the meeting is over.
performing a task with maximum effort or ability
She completed the project as best as she can.
express lack of interest or concern about something
I can care less about the latest gossip.
need or want something beneficial
I can do with a cup of tea.
feel relieved from worry or concern
You can rest easy knowing the project is complete.
perceive danger through intuition or instinct
She can smell danger before anyone else notices.
follow simple first steps before trying harder or more complex things
New programmers must crawl before they can walk with advanced frameworks.
used to question the difficulty of a task
He asked, 'How hard can it be to fix a bike?'.
the future will reveal the outcome of a situation
Only time can tell if their relationship will last.
accept whatever is available without complaint
In tough times, you take what you can get.
learn simple things before trying difficult things
You should walk before you can run in this new job.
expresses satisfaction with a situation
The weather is perfect and the food is great, what more can you ask?
extending to the farthest point visible
Fields stretched as far as the eye can see.
is believed always right and never at fault by certain people
To his loyal followers, the coach can do no wrong.
shows surprise or disbelief about something unexpected
Can you beat it, he won the lottery again!
delay or avoid dealing with a problem
The committee decided to kick the can down the road again.
no limit on participants in the activity
In this contest, any number can play.
Origin of can
Latin, canere (to sing)
Terms with can included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
room surface
lower surface of a room on which one can walk
animal
insect with wings that can often be a pest
concealment
put something where it can't be seen
soft speech
speak very softly so only one person can hear
language inquiry
ask if someone can communicate in English
time
in the shortest time that the situation can realistically allow
vehicle space
space where vehicles can be left
measurement scale
showing none, with no amount or size that can be measured
measurement
distance that can be walked in ten minutes
feasibility
when something can be done or allowed
visible to others
in a place where people can see
audible speech
spoken so others can hear, not just thought
law enforcement
building where police officers work and public can report crimes
removable cap
cap that can be removed by twisting
offer assistance
asking how you can help someone
volume
maximum amount something can contain
human
person of the sex that can have babies
can't help
cannot avoid or stop
choice
not required, can be chosen or left out
freedom
things you can do without being stopped
cutting edge
having a thin edge or point that can cut or pierce easily
produce noise
emit a noise that others can hear
food preservation
place food into a metal can for preservation
subjective
something that people can have different ideas about
Examples of can in a sentence
The can of beans rolled off the shelf. He filled the can with rainwater for the garden. The old can was rusty but still usable for watering. She asked where the can was located. The can was out of order, so he had to wait. He stashed a can in his backpack.
They found a can hidden in the drawer. The film was stored in a metal can. She found an old can filled with negatives. He spent a night in the can. The notorious gangster died in the can. She always carries her cans in her backpack. The DJ adjusted his cans before the set. The sailor spotted the red can in the distance. Navigating around the can was tricky in the fog. The ship deployed a can to deter the enemy submarine. A can was launched to protect the fleet from underwater threats. Technicians inspected the can for any leaks. The can is crucial for containing radiation. The practitioner adjusted the cans for better readings. Cans are essential tools in Scientology auditing. Students can use calculators on this exam. You can park here after six. The road can get icy overnight. Too much sun can damage your skin. I can smell smoke in the kitchen. She can feel the floor shaking. He can fix old radios. Can you speak Arabic fluently? Can you pass the salt, please? Can I get you some coffee? We can tomatoes from the backyard garden. She learned to can jam safely. They canned the merger last month. Let's can this idea for now. They will can him if sales keep falling. The studio canned its host after the scandal. The plant cans tuna near the harbor. These machines can paint in minutes. He canned a short birdie putt. If she cans this, they win the match. Technicians can the rods before reactor assembly. The lab canned each pellet for corrosion tests.
View all translations of can
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:boîte, pouvoir, ...
- German:Dose, dürfen, ...
- Italian:lattina, potere, ...
- Spanish:lata, poder, ...
- Portuguese:lata, poder, ...
- Chinese:罐, 能, ...
- Japanese:缶, てもいい, ...
- Arabic:عُلْبَة, أَمْكَنَ, ...
- Hebrew:פַּחִית, רַשַּׁאי, ...
- Russian:жестяная банка, можно, ...
- Ukrainian:жерстяна банка, могти, ...
- Hindi:डिब्बा, सकना, ...
Definition of CAN - Reverso English Dictionary
Acronym
1.
acr: Controller Area NetworkTECH. system for communication between car partsTECH.
- The CAN system ensures smooth communication between all car parts.
2.
acr: community action networkRare group helping people in a local areaRare
- The CAN organized a food drive for families.
3.
acr: campus area networkTECH. network connecting computers in a campusTECH.
- The CAN connects all computers across the university campus.
Origin of CAN
Old English can (know) + cunnan (be able)
Examples of CAN in a sentence
Technicians praised the efficiency of the CAN in diagnostics. The CAN hosted a community clean-up event. Volunteers from the CAN supported the local shelter. The IT department is upgrading the CAN. Students rely on the CAN for internet access.
View all translations of CAN
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:CAN, réseau d'action communautaire, ...
- German:Controller Area Network, Bürgeraktionsgruppe, ...
- Italian:CAN, rete di azione comunitaria, ...
- Spanish:Red de Área de Control, CAN, ...
- Portuguese:CAN, rede de campus, ...
- Chinese:控制器局域网, 社区行动网络, ...
- Japanese:コントローラエリアネットワーク, 地域活動ネットワーク, ...
- Arabic:شَبَكَة التَّحَكُّم في السَّيَّارَة, شبكة العمل المجتمعي, ...
- Hebrew:רֶשֶׁת תִּקְשֹׁרֶת בֵּין רְכִיבֵי הָרֶכֶב, רֶשֶׁת פְּעוּלָּה קְהִילָּתִית, ...
- Russian:Сеть контроллеров автомобиля, сеть общественных инициатив, ...
- Ukrainian:Контролерна мережа, мережа громадських ініціатив, ...
- Hindi:कंट्रोलर एरिया नेटवर्क, सीएएन, ...

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