Can | Mean of can in English Dictionary

/kən/

• Verb
• to be able to (do something)
1. I don't need any help. I can do it myself.
2. I can't decide what to do.
3. All we can do [=the only thing we can do] now is wait.
4. She can read, can't she?
5. I can whistle.
6. A weight lifter can lift a very heavy weight.
7. She can play the piano.
8. Only Congress can do that.
9. a car that can hold five people [=a car that has enough room for five people]
10. How fast can [=does, will] the car go?
11. I visit her whenever I can.
12. I don't know if I'll be able to fix the problem, but I'll do what I can.
13. Please help us if you can.
• to have permission to (do something)
1. You can do it tomorrow if you like.
2. “Can I leave now?” “No, you can't.”
3. You can't leave until you finish washing the dishes.
• Noun
• a closed metal container that is usually shaped like a cylinder and that holds food or drink
1. Open a can [=(Brit) tin] of beans.
2. a can of tomatoes
3. a soda/beer can

• the food or drink that is in a can
1. He ate the whole can of beans.
• a metal or plastic container that has a removable top and that is used for holding liquid, trash, etc.
1. a can of oil = an oil can
2. a garbage can
3. a trash can
• a complicated situation in which doing something to correct a problem leads to many more problems
1. We thought the project would be simple, but it turned out to be a real can of worms.
2. Our boss is reluctant to change the policy now because she doesn't want to open a can of worms.
• to accept blame or responsibility for something that you did not cause
1. He made the error, but she was left to carry the can.
2. Taxpayers will carry the can for the renovations.
• completed and ready to be released
1. a movie that is in the can
• the part of the body that you sit on
1. If you ask me, what he needs is a good kick in the can.
• a room with a toilet
1. He locked himself in the can and wouldn't come out.
• a prison or jail
1. The cops threw him in the can.
• Verb
• to preserve food by putting it in a metal or glass container
1. a factory where meats are canned [=(Brit) tinned]
2. canning tomatoes
• to dismiss (someone) from a job
1. He got canned [=fired, sacked] for being late to work.
• to stop or end (something)
1. The boss angrily told him to can the jokes. [=to stop making jokes]
2. Just can it! [=stop talking; shut up]