I. _kən, (|)kan; esp after a stressed vowel _k ə ŋ; esp in NewEng (|) ke(ə)n; esp dial (|) kin verb
( past could _kəd, (|) ku̇d ; or archaic second singular (with “thou”) couldst _kətst; (|) ku̇dzt, -u̇dst, -u̇tst ; present singular & plural can or archaic second singular (with “thou”) canst _kənzt, (|) kan-, -n(t)st)
Etymology: Middle English, know, know how, am able (1st & 3d singular present indicative of cunnen, past coude, couthe ), from Old English can, con (infin. cunnan, past cūthe ); akin to Old High German kan know, am able (infin. kunnan ), Old Norse kann (infin. kunna ), Gothic kann know (infin. kunnan ), Old English cnāwan to know — more at know
transitive verb
1. obsolete : know , understand
most of the inhabitants can no word of Cornish — Richard Carew
2. : to be able to do, make, or accomplish
the will of Him who all things can — John Milton
intransitive verb
archaic : to have knowledge or skill — used with following of
thou canst well of woodcraft — Sir Walter Scott
verbal auxiliary
1.
a. : know how to : have the skill to
he can read
she can play the piano
b. : be physically or mentally able to
he can lift 200 pounds
I can tell red from green
c. : may perhaps : may possibly
do you think he can still be living
it could be true
d. : have the necessary courage or resolution to
he can accept defeat without complaining
e. : be permitted by conscience or feeling to
can hardly blame him
I can forgive anything but that
f. : be made possible or probable by circumstances to
he can hardly have meant that
I could cry for shame
g. : be inherently able or designed to
everything that money can buy
this car can hold five persons
h. : be logically or axiologically able to
2 + 2 can also be written 3 + 1
we can reasonably conclude from this that such is the case
i. : be enabled by law, agreement, or custom to : have a right to
only the House can originate financial measures
j. : have permission to — used interchangeably with may
you can go now if you like
— see could
2. dialect : to be able to — used as infinitive
I may can go
he'll can tell us — Alexander Wardrop
II. ˈkan, -aa(ə)n noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English canne, from Old English; akin to Old High German channa, Old Norse kanna; all perhaps from a prehistoric North Germanic-West Germanic word borrowed from Late Latin canna, a vessel, from Latin, reed; from the long thin spout of certain ancient vessels — more at cane
1. : a receptacle (as for holding liquids) usually cylindrical in shape:
a. : a vessel for holding or carrying water, wine, beer, or other liquids
I have brought thee in this can fresh water from the brook — William Wordsworth
specifically : a drinking vessel
in his hand did bear a boozing can — Edmund Spenser
— compare cannikin
b. : a cylindrical metal receptacle usually with an open top, often with a removable cover, and sometimes with a spout or side handles (as for holding milk, oil, coffee, tobacco, ashes, or garbage)
c. : a single-trip tinplate container in which perishable foods or other products are hermetically sealed for preservation until use — called also tin
d. : a glass or earthenware jar with an airtight cover used for packing or preserving fruit or vegetables in the home
we put up a dozen cans of tomatoes last fall
e. : a small usually cylindrical container made of paper or paper compound — compare composite can , fiber can
2.
a. : a steam-heated hollow metal cylinder over which cloth is passed to be dried
b. : a hollow cylindrical combustion chamber of an airplane engine
c. : an air cleaner for a carburetor
3. slang : jail
4. : toilet 5 — not often in formal use
5. slang : buttocks, seat
6. : depth charge
7. : destroyer 2
•
- in the can
III. ˈkan, -aa(ə)n transitive verb
( canned ; canned ; canning ; cans )
1.
a. : to put in a can ; especially : to preserve by sealing in airtight cans or jars
b. : to hit (a golf ball) into the cup : hole
2. slang : to expel especially from school : discharge especially from employment
they canned him within a month of his arrival
3. slang : to put a stop or end to : refrain from
can the chatter
4.
a. : to enclose completely (as a pump or motor) in a housing
b. : to seal hermetically (as an oil tank or a package enclosed in metal foil)
5. : to record (as a singing voice) on discs or tape
he wouldn't let me can his voice — J.A.Lomax
laughter canned for comedy programs
IV. (|)kan verbal auxiliary
Etymology: Middle English, alteration of gan, past of ginnen to begin — more at gin
obsolete : did
with gentle words he can her fairly greet — Edmund Spenser
V.
obsolete
variant of khan
VI. ˈkan, -aa(ə)n noun
( -s )
Etymology: by shortening
: canvasback duck
VII. abbreviation
1. canceled; cancellation
2. canon
3. canto
4. cantoris
VIII. noun
slang : an ounce of marijuana