metal tin

Small metal box

Tin is a soft, silvery-white metallic element used to coat other metals to prevent corrosion and in alloys like bronze and pewter.

Tin cans are steel containers coated with tin.

The word extends to any small metal container: a tin of mints, a biscuit tin.

In British English, tin often means what Americans call a can: a tin of beans.

Related

alloy · container · shiny · rust · ore · mining · lid · stamped · recycling · canning · preserve · sheet · plated · whistle · rattle · lightweight · canister · sardines

Opposites
material composition

metal tinglass jar

Sealed transparent storage vessel

glass · plastic · glass bottle · plastic tub · cardboard box

container permanence

metal tinpaper wrapper

Thin outer covering

plastic wrap · cellophane · single-use plastic · foil wrapper · wax paper

material value/prestige

metal tingold

Element seventy-nine

silver · platinum · precious metal · crystal · fine china

Family

metal, tin, metals, metallic, metallurgy, metallurgical, metalwork, metalworking, metaled

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G