can
[noun]
Synonyms: jail, calaboose, clink, hoosegow, jug, lockup, pen, pokey, prison, stir, toilet, donicker, head, john, johnny, latrine, pot, potty, privy, throne, buttocks, *arse, backside, behind, butt, derriere, fanny, fundament, hind end, hunkers
[verb]
Synonyms: dismiss, ax, boot (out), bounce, cashier, discharge, fire, kick out, sack, terminate

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. can¹ S1 W1 /kən; strong kæn/ modal verb (negative short form can’t)
[Language: Old English; Origin: cunnan]

1. ABILITY to be able to do something or to know how to do something:
You can swim, can’t you?
Even a small personal computer can store vast amounts of information.
Gabriella can speak French fluently.
I’m afraid Mr Harding can’t see you now – he’s busy.
The police are doing all they can to find her.

2. REQUESTING spoken used to ask someone to do something or give you something:
Can I have a cigarette, please?
Can you help me lift this box?

3. ALLOWED to be allowed to do something or to have the right or power to do something:
You can’t park here – it’s a no parking zone.
‘Can we go home now, please?’ ‘No you can’t.’
Any police officer can insist on seeing a driver’s license.

4. POSSIBILITY used to say that something is possible:
I am confident a solution can be found.
There can be no doubt that he is guilty.
The boxes can be stored flat.
Can he still be alive after all this time?

5. SEEING/HEARING ETC used with the verbs ‘see’, ‘hear’, ‘feel’, ‘taste’, and ‘smell’, and with verbs connected with thinking, to mean that someone sees something, hears something etc:
Here they are – I can see their car.
Can you smell something burning?
I can’t understand why you’re so upset.
He can’t remember where he put the tickets.

6. NOT TRUE [in negatives] used to say that you do not believe that something is true:
This can’t be the right road.
It can’t be easy caring for a man and a child who are not your own.

7. SHOULD NOT [in questions and negatives] used to say that someone should not or must not do something:
You can’t expect the world to change overnight.
We can’t go on like this.
Jill’s left her husband, but can you blame her after the way he treated her?

8. SURPRISE/ANGER [usually in questions and negatives] spoken used when you are surprised or angry:
You can’t be serious!
They can’t have arrived already, surely!
How can you be so stupid!

9. SOMETIMES used to say what sometimes happens or how someone sometimes behaves:
It can be quite cold here at night.
Peter can be really annoying.

10. GIVING ORDERS spoken used to tell someone in an angry way to do something:
And you can stop that quarrelling, the pair of you.
If you won’t keep quiet, you can get out.

11. no can do spoken used to say that it is impossible for you to do what someone has asked you to do:
Sorry, John, no can do.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. can² S2 /kæn/ noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: canne]

1. a metal container in which food or drink is preserved without air:
a Coke can
can of
All we’ve got is a couple of cans of soup.

2. a special metal container that keeps the liquid inside it under pressure. The liquid is released as a spray when you press the button
can of
a can of hairspray

3. especially American English a metal container with a lid that can be removed, used for holding liquid:
Two large cans of paint ought to be enough.

4. can of worms a very complicated situation that causes a lot of problems when you start to deal with it:
I just don’t know what to do – every solution I can think of would just open up a whole new can of worms.

5. in the can informal a film that is in the can is complete and ready to be shown

6. the can informal
a) a prison
b) American English a toilet
⇒ carry the can at carry¹(26)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. can³ verb (past tense and past participle canned, present participle canning) [transitive] American English

1. to preserve food by putting it into a metal container from which all the air is removed Synonym : tin British English ⇒ canned

2. informal to dismiss someone from a job Synonym : sack

3. can it! spoken used to tell someone to stop talking or making a noise

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

can
noun
ADJ. metal, tin | rusty | food The floor was littered with rusty food cans.
300g, 250ml, 11oz, etc. a 200g can of tuna
beer, coke | jerry, petrol | oil | paint | watering | aerosol, spray
VERB + CAN come in This special type of milk comes in a can.
open We opened a can of sardines for lunch.
drain, empty She drained her can of beer and threw it away. He emptied a can of beans into the pan.
drink, sip at | fill He was filling a jerry can with petrol from the pump.
recycle
CAN + NOUN opener (also can-opener)
PREP. in a/the ~ | ~ of cans of oil

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

can
modal verb
1.
DUBIOUS: Can you possibly send me an application form?
GOOD: Could you possibly send me an application form?
DUBIOUS: I'd be grateful if you can confirm whether you are coming.
GOOD: I'd be grateful if you could confirm whether you are coming.

Usage Note:
To make a polite request, use could : 'Could you pass the butter, please?'

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2.
BAD: The next generation can fly to the moon for their holidays.
GOOD: The next generation will be able to fly to the moon for their holidays.

Usage Note:
Use can to talk about someone's present ability: 'All our children can swim.'
Use be able to to predict someone's future ability: 'You'll never be able to swim if you don't try.'

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3.
See REMEMBER (remember)

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4.
See COULD (could)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

can
̈ɪkæn
See: as best one can , catch as catch can

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

CAN
Campus Area Network 
Canada 
Community Area Network

[TahlilGaran] Acronyms and Abbreviations Dictionary ▲