plural cans
1
: a usually cylindrical receptacle:
a
: a vessel for holding liquids;
specifically
: a drinking vessel - … in his hand did bear a boozing can …
- —Edmund Spenser
b
: a usually metal typically cylindrical receptacle usually with an open top, often with a removable cover, and sometimes with a spout or side handles (as for holding liquid or trash)
c
: a container (as of tinplate) in which products (such as perishable foods) are hermetically sealed for preservation until use
d
: a jar for packing or preserving fruit or vegetables
e
: a recessed lighting fixture - Augment natural light with recessed cans in the ceiling, sconces on side walls, or a table lamp on a shelf …
- —Jill Connors
2
: jail - The cops threw him in the can.
b
: bathroom 1 - He locked himself in the can and wouldn't come out.
4
: buttocks - He needs a kick in the can.
5
: destroyer 2 - served on a can during the battle
6
: headphone
—usually plural - You don't realize just how noisy it is inside a plane until you put on a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones … . I generally leave the noise-cancelling cans on even when I'm not listening to anything at all—the relative quiet makes a long trip less stressful.
- —Steven Morgenstern
—
canful
play
\ˈkan-ˌfu̇l\
noun
—
in the can
of a film or videotape
: completed and ready for release