Definition for: can

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English

Pronunciation

• AHD: kăn
• IPA: /kæn/ (also Etymology 1 unstressed IPA: /kən/ )
• SAMPA: /k{n/

Etymology 1

Old English cunnan ‘to know (how)’.

Verb

- ( third-person singular simple present can , present participle -, simple past could , past participle -)

1. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) [Used to indicate ability to do something] To be able to

   She can speak English, French, and German.

   I can play football.

   Can you remember your fifth birthday?

2. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) ( colloquial ) [Used to indicate that something is allowed or permitted] May

   You can go outside and play when you're finished with your homework.

   Can I use your pen?

   • Usage note: Some authorities consider this use incorrect, and recommend using may only.

Usage note

For missing tenses, substitute inflected forms of be able to , as:

• I might be able to go.
• I was able to go yesterday.
• I had been able to go before.
• I will be able to go tomorrow.

The word could also suffices in many tenses. "I would be able to go" is equivalent to "I could go", and "I was not able to go" can be rendered "I couldn't go". (Unless there is a clear indication otherwise, "could verb " means "would be able to verb ", but "couldn't verb " means "was/were not able to verb ". It is unclear why.)

The present tense negative can not is often contracted to cannot or can't .

The use of can in asking permission is often considered impolite or incorrect.

Synonyms

• be able to (1)
• may (2)

Antonyms

• cannot
• can't

Translations

To be able (1)

may (2)

Etymology 2

Middle English < Old English canne (glass, container, cup).

Noun

can ( plural cans )

1. a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids, usually of steel or aluminium.
2. a container used to carry and dispense water for plants (a watering can ).
3. a tin-plate canister, often cylindrical, for preserved foods such as fruit, meat, or fish.
4. (US, euphemism) toilet, bathroom.
5. (US, euphemism) buttocks.

Synonyms

• tin (British & Australian at least)

Translations

a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids (1)

a container used to carry and dispense water for plants (2)

a tin-plate canister (3)

toilet (4)

buttocks(5)

Verb

to can ( third-person singular simple present cans , present participle canning , simple past canned , past participle canned )

1. to preserve, by heating and sealing in a can or jar

   They spent August canning fruit and vegetables.

2. to discard, scrap or terminate (an idea, project, etc.)

   He canned the whole project because he thought it would fail.

3. To shut up

   Can your gob.

4. ( euphemistic ) to fire or terminate an employee

   The boss canned him for speaking out.

Translations

to preserve (1)

to discard (2)

To shut up (3)

to fire or terminate an employee (4)

Brithenig

Noun

can f .

1. reed

Noun

can m .

1. dog

Interlingua

Noun

can

1. dog
2. cock, hammer ( of a firearm )

Irish

Pronunciation

IPA: [kan]

Verb

can (v.n. canadh)

1. to sing

Conjugation

First conjugation; nonstandard forms in italics

• Present indicative

• Imperfect indicative

• Past indicative

• Future

• Conditional

• Present subjunctive

• Past subjunctive

• Imperative

Italian

Noun

can m . ( plural: cani )

1. ( poetic and literary form of cane ) dog

Spanish

Noun

can ( plural: canes )

1. dog, hound

See also

• cachorro m .
• chucho m .
• perro m .
• pichicho m .

Turkish

Etymology

From Persian

Noun

can ( plural: canlar )

1. soul, life

Other Translations for "can"

Braille 6 Dot
Braille 8 Dot
Sign Language Spelling
Morse Code		can
Hex		63 e1 ee
Pig Latin		ancay

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