canister
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a small, strong container with a lid used for keeping dry things like tea, coffee, or flour.
n.a cylindrical or rectangular vessel with a removable lid, typically used for storing dry household goods.
Simple“She kept the loose tea leaves in a silver canister on the kitchen shelf.”
In context“The kitchen was organized with matching ceramic canisters for flour, sugar, and coffee, each sealed with an airtight rubber gasket.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a metal container used to hold gas or chemicals, such as the part of a gas mask that cleans the air.
n.a pressurized or specialized metal receptacle for chemicals, gases, or the filtration component of a protective mask.
Simple“The hikers carried a small gas canister to use with their camping stove.”
In context“The technician replaced the spent carbon canister in the filtration system to ensure the air remained free of contaminants.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a type of shell fired from a large gun that breaks apart to scatter smaller pieces.
n.a short-range antipersonnel projectile consisting of a metal casing filled with submissiles that disperse upon firing.
Simple“The museum displayed an old canister shot used in the 19th century.”
In context“Historical accounts describe the devastating effect of canister rounds when deployed against advancing infantry at close range.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a slang word for a person's head.
n.a slang term referring to the human head.
Simple“He took a nasty knock to his canister when he walked into the low beam.”
In context“The old boxer joked about the many hits his canister had taken over his long career in the ring.”
Synonymsnogginnut - 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to put something into a canister for storage.
v.to pack or seal a substance into a canister.
Simple“The factory machines canister the tea leaves immediately after they are dried.”
In context“The process requires the volatile chemicals to be canisterized under vacuum conditions to prevent oxidation.”
From Middle English canustyr (“basket”), a borrowing from Latin canistrum. Doublet of canaster and knaster. * (metal receptacle): Through influence of unrelated can. * (projectile): Short for canister shot, so called for its casing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.