CAN

n. & v. --n. 1 a metal vessel for liquid. 2 a tin container in which food or drink is hermetically sealed to enable storage over long periods. 3 (prec. by the) sl. a prison (sent to the can). b US lavatory. --v.tr. (canned, canning) 1 put or preserve in a can. 2 record on film or tape for future use. øcan of worms colloq. a complicated problem. can-opener a device for opening cans (in sense 2 of n.). in the can colloq. completed, ready (orig. of filmed or recorded material). øøcanner n. [OE canne]