1
: a soft faintly bluish-white lustrous low-melting crystalline metallic element with atomic number 50 that is malleable and ductile at ordinary temperatures and that is used especially in containers, as a protective coating, in tinfoil, and in soft solders and alloys
—often used before another noun
tin cans
a tin roof
see Chemical Elements Table
2
plural tins
a
: a box, can, pan, vessel, or a sheet made of tinplate
broadly
: such a container of any metal (such as aluminum)
b
: a metal container and its contents
a tin of tomatoes
tin
adjective
tinned; tinning
1
: to cover or plate with tin or a tin alloy
2
: to put up or pack in tins : can
tinned peaches
taxpayer identification number
Examples of tin in a Sentence
Noun
row upon row of tins containing food for an emergency that never happened
Recent Examples on the Web
American Booksellers Association, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
My grandfather even owned a tin mine, so that history feels personal, and Coolies Club captures the heritage well.
—Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Nov. 2024
They are beautifully boxed, tinned, or elegantly wrapped in paper and given to friends, neighbors, relatives, and colleagues.
—Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tin
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Noun
While the white oak shelves and tin ceiling create a beautiful space, my staff and I have worked hard to cultivate a warm and inviting environment for everyone.
—American Booksellers Association, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
My grandfather even owned a tin mine, so that history feels personal, and Coolies Club captures the heritage well.
—Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
Boutiques on the perimeter specialize in local saffron, honey, and tinned caviar from Azerbaijani sturgeon.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Nov. 2024
They are beautifully boxed, tinned, or elegantly wrapped in paper and given to friends, neighbors, relatives, and colleagues.
—Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tin
Cite this Entry
“Tin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tin. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tin
2 of 2 verb
tinned; tinning
1
: to cover or plate with tin or a mixture of tin with another metal
2
: to put up or pack in tins : can
Medical Definition
tin
noun
: a soft faintly bluish white lustrous low-melting crystalline metallic element that is malleable and ductile at ordinary temperatures and that is used as a protective coating, in tinfoil, and in soft solders and alloys
—symbol Sn
see Chemical Elements Table
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