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can
1
[kan; unstressed kuh
n] auxiliary verb and verb, present singular 1st person can, 2nd can or ( Archaic ) canst, 3rd can, present plural can; past singular 1st person could, 2nd could or ( Archaic ) couldst, 3rd could, past plural could. For auxiliary verb: imperative, infinitive, and participles lacking. For verb (Obsolete): imperative can; infinitive can; past participle could; present participle cun·ning. auxiliary verb
1.
to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to: She can solve the problem easily, I'm sure.
2.
to know how to: He can play chess, although he's not particularly good at it.
3.
to have the power or means to: A dictator can impose his will on the people.
4.
to have the right or qualifications to: He can change whatever he wishes in the script.
5.
may; have permission to: Can I speak to you for a moment?
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
7.
Obsolete. to know.
00:10
Can
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
Origin:
before 900; Middle English, Old English, present indicative singular 1st, 3rd person of cunnan to know, know how; cognate with German, Old Norse, Gothic kann; see ken, know
before 900; Middle English, Old English, present indicative singular 1st, 3rd person of cunnan to know, know how; cognate with German, Old Norse, Gothic kann; see ken, know
Can be confused: can, may, shall, will (see usage note at the current entry)(see usage note at shall)(see synonym study at will).
Usage note
Can1 and may1 are frequently but not always interchangeable in senses indicating possibility: A power failure can (or may) occur at any time. Despite the insistence by some, that can means only “to be able” and may means “to be permitted,” both are regularly used in seeking or granting permission: Can (or May) I borrow your tape recorder? You can (or may) use it tomorrow. Sentences using can occur chiefly in spoken English. May in this sense occurs more frequently in formal contexts: May I address the court, Your Honor? In negative constructions, can't or cannot is more common than may not: You can't have it today. I need it myself. The contraction mayn't is rare.
Can but and cannot but are formal and now somewhat old-fashioned expressions suggesting that there is no possible alternative to doing something. Can but is equivalent to can only: We can but do our best. Cannot but is the equivalent of cannot help but: We cannot but protest against these injustices. See also cannot, help.
Can1 and may1 are frequently but not always interchangeable in senses indicating possibility: A power failure can (or may) occur at any time. Despite the insistence by some, that can means only “to be able” and may means “to be permitted,” both are regularly used in seeking or granting permission: Can (or May) I borrow your tape recorder? You can (or may) use it tomorrow. Sentences using can occur chiefly in spoken English. May in this sense occurs more frequently in formal contexts: May I address the court, Your Honor? In negative constructions, can't or cannot is more common than may not: You can't have it today. I need it myself. The contraction mayn't is rare.
Can but and cannot but are formal and now somewhat old-fashioned expressions suggesting that there is no possible alternative to doing something. Can but is equivalent to can only: We can but do our best. Cannot but is the equivalent of cannot help but: We cannot but protest against these injustices. See also cannot, help.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
a sealed container for food, beverages, etc., as of aluminum, sheet iron coated with tin, or other metal: a can of soup.
2.
a receptacle for garbage, ashes, etc.: a trash can.
3.
a bucket, pail, or other container for holding or carrying liquids: water can.
4.
a drinking cup; tankard.
5.
a metal or plastic container for holding film on cores or reels.
6.
Slang: Usually Vulgar. toilet; bathroom.
7.
Slang. jail: He's been in the can for a week.
8.
Slang: Sometimes Vulgar. buttocks.
9.
Military Slang.
a.
a depth charge.
b.
a destroyer.
verb (used with object)
Idioms 10.
to preserve by sealing in a can, jar, etc.
11.
Slang. to dismiss; fire.
12.
Slang. to throw (something) away.
13.
Slang. to put a stop to: Can that noise!
14.
to record, as on film or tape.
15.
carry the can, British and Canadian Slang. to take the responsibility.
16.
in the can, recorded on film; completed: The movie is in the can and ready for release.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English, Old English canne, cognate with German Kanne, Old Norse kanna, all perhaps < West Germanic; compare Late Latin canna small vessel
before 1000; Middle English, Old English canne, cognate with German Kanne, Old Norse kanna, all perhaps < West Germanic; compare Late Latin canna small vessel
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To can
Collins
World English Dictionary
can1 (kæn, (unstressed) kən) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (takes an infinitive without to | |
| 1. | used as an auxiliary to indicate ability, skill, or fitness to perform a task: I can run a mile in under four minutes |
| 2. | used as an auxiliary to indicate permission or the right to something: can I have a drink? |
| 3. | used as an auxiliary to indicate knowledge of how to do something: he can speak three languages fluently |
| 4. | used as an auxiliary to indicate the possibility, opportunity, or likelihood: my trainer says I can win the race if I really work hard |
| can2 (kæn) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a container, esp for liquids, usually of thin sheet metal: a petrol can; beer can |
| 2. | another name (esp US) for tin |
| 3. | Also called: canful the contents of a can or the amount a can will hold |
| 4. | a slang word for prison |
| 5. | (US), (Canadian) See toilet a slang word for toilet or buttocks |
| 6. | (US) navy a slang word for destroyer |
| 7. | slang navy a depth charge |
| 8. | a shallow cylindrical metal container of varying size used for storing and handling film |
| 9. | informal can of worms a complicated problem |
| 10. | carry the can See carry |
| 11. | in the can |
| a. (of a film, piece of music, etc) having been recorded, processed, edited, etc | |
| b. informal arranged or agreed: the contract is almost in the can | |
| —vb , cans, canning, canned | |
| 12. | to put (food, etc) into a can or cans; preserve in a can |
| 13. | slang (US) (tr) to dismiss from a job |
| 14. | informal (US) (tr) to stop (doing something annoying or making an annoying noise) (esp in the phrase can it!) |
| 15. | informal (tr) to reject or discard |
| [Old English canne; related to Old Norse, Old High German kanna, Irish gann, Swedish kana sled] | |
| Can. | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| 1. | Canada |
| 2. | Canadian |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
can
O.E. 1st & 3rd pers. sing. pres. indic. of cunnan "know, have power to, be able," (also "to have carnal knowledge"), from P.Gmc. *kunnan "to be mentally able, to have learned" (cf. O.N. kenna "to know, make known," O.Fris. kanna "to recognize, admit," Ger. kennen "to know," Goth. kannjan "to make known"),
from PIE base *gno- (see know). Absorbing the third sense of "to know," that of "to know how to do something" (in addition to "to know as a fact" and "to be acquainted with" something or someone). An O.E. preterite-present verb, its original p.p., couth, survives only in its negation (see uncouth), but cf. could. The prp. has spun off as cunning.
can
O.E. canne "a cup, container," from P.Gmc. *kanna (cf. O.S., O.N., Swed. kanna, M.Du. kanne, Du. kan, O.H.G. channa, Ger. Kanne), probably an early borrowing from L.L. canna "container, vessel," from L. canna "reed," also "reed pipe, small boat;" but the sense evolution is difficult. Modern "air-tight
vessel of tinned iron" is from 1867 (can-opener is from 1877). Slang meaning "toilet" is c.1900, said to be a shortening of piss-can. Meaning "buttocks" is from c.1910. The verb meaning "to put up in cans" is attested from 1871; that of "to fire an employee" is from 1905. Related: Canning. Canned "pre-recorded" first attested 1904.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
can definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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FOLDOC
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
| CAN cancer (constellation) |
can.
|
Can.
|
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
can
In addition to the idioms beginning with can, also see as best one can; before you can say Jack Robinson; bite off more than one can chew; carry the can; catch as catch can; game that two can play; get the ax (can); in the can; more than one can shake a stick at; no can do; you can bet your ass; you can lead a horse to water; you can say that again; you never can tell. Also see under can't.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences from the web
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
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