con ‧ tain ‧ er /kənˈteɪnə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . something such as a box or bowl that you use to keep things in:
ice cream in plastic containers
2 . a very large metal box in which goods are packed to make it easy to lift or move them onto a ship or vehicle:
a container ship
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COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + container
▪ a plastic/glass/metal etc container
A lot of food is sold in plastic containers.
▪ an airtight/watertight container (=not allowing air or water in)
Seeds are best stored in airtight containers.
▪ a sealed container (=closed, so that no air or water can get in)
Place the ingredients in a sealed container and shake well.
▪ an open container (=that has been opened or that does not have a lid)
Don't keep food in open containers in the fridge.
▪ a shallow container (=not deep)
Fill a shallow container with soil.
▪ a recyclable container (=that can be put through a special process and used again)
Try to buy food that is packed in recyclable containers.
▪ a water/food/milk etc container
▪ a storage container (=for storing things in)
There are a lot of old toys in storage containers in the attic.
■ verbs
▪ fill a container
Two big containers were filled with water.
▪ put something in a container
The food is then put in special containers.
▪ store something in a container
Carrots from the garden were stored in containers of sand in the cellar.
▪ a container holds something
How much liquid will this container hold?