tins
tins — noun
- tinssingular
- tinsesplural
1. a soft, silver-white metal that does not rust easily. People apply it as a thin
a soft, silver-white metal that does not rust easily. People apply it as a thin coating to other metals, mix it into alloys such as bronze, and use it in products like food containers and electrical parts.
Emre studied the properties of tin in his chemistry class at school.
uncountable: tin as a substance
The factory used a thin layer of tin to protect the steel sheets from rusting.
collocation: thin layer of tin
Mauricio showed his daughter a piece of tin and explained how miners dig it from the ground.
Tin is mixed with copper to make bronze, a metal used for statues and tools for thousands of years.
2. a sealed container made of metal that holds food items such as vegetables, soup,
a sealed container made of metal that holds food items such as vegetables, soup, fish, or fruit and keeps them fresh until someone opens them. The container is usually made of steel with a thin coating of tin on the inside.
Nia opened two tins of beans to add to the stew she was making.
tin of + food: specifies contents
Mira keeps a few tins of soup in her cupboard for days when she is too busy to cook.
Joshua checked the label on the tin to see if the tomatoes came from a local farm.
Vivek recycled the empty tins after using the sweetcorn for the salad.
Daichi put two tins of tuna in his bag for the camping trip.
- can
the standard American English term for a sealed metal food container
用法筆記
In British English, a sealed food container is called a tin. In American English, the word can is used instead.
常見錯誤
3. the food or drink that is inside a sealed metal container, or the amount that fi
the food or drink that is inside a sealed metal container, or the amount that fills one container.
Felix added a whole tin of chopped tomatoes to the pan and stirred well.
whole tin of: emphasises full amount
You only need half a tin of condensed milk for this dessert recipe.
half a tin of: partial amount
This curry tastes best if you use one whole tin of coconut milk.
The cake came out too dry because Eitan forgot to add a tin of evaporated milk.
- can
used in American English for the contents of a sealed metal container, e.g. 'a can of soda'
文法句型
tin of + noun
用法筆記
This sense is always followed by an of-phrase that names the food or drink that was inside the container. Distinguish from sense 2 (the container itself) by the focus on the contents rather than the packaging.
4. a metal box with a lid, designed to keep food items such as biscuits, cakes, or
a metal box with a lid, designed to keep food items such as biscuits, cakes, or tea fresh and dry.
Mayumi took a biscuit from the decorated tin on the kitchen counter.
Adaeze keeps her green tea in an old metal tin with a floral pattern on the lid.
reusable: keeps food fresh
Hao found a tin of shortbread hidden behind the bags of flour in the pantry.
The children opened the round blue tin hoping to find chocolate cookies inside.
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2, this refers to a reusable container with a removable lid rather than a sealed, disposable food can.
5. a tall, round metal pot with a lid, and sometimes a handle, that people use for
a tall, round metal pot with a lid, and sometimes a handle, that people use for storing and selling paint, varnish, or other liquid substances.
Emre stirred the paint in the tin thoroughly before pouring any into the tray.
Mauricio sealed the tin of varnish tightly after using only a small amount for the shelf.
tin of varnish: paint/liquid container
Nia bought a large tin of white paint for the living room walls and a small one for the door.
The old tin of paint had rusted around the lid and was extremely hard to open.
- can
the more common American English term for a paint container
6. a metal dish without a lid that is used in an oven for baking food such as cakes
a metal dish without a lid that is used in an oven for baking food such as cakes, bread, or roasted meat.
Mira greased the baking tin with butter before pouring in the cake mixture.
baking tin + greasing: preparation step
Joshua placed the loaf tin in the oven and set the timer for forty minutes.
Vivek used a round baking tin to make the birthday cake for his younger sister.
The recipe says to line the tin with baking paper before adding the bread dough.
- pan
the more common American English term for a baking container; 'cake pan' instead of 'cake tin'
7. a sealed metal container, typically made of aluminium, that is used for selling
a sealed metal container, typically made of aluminium, that is used for selling and drinking beer.
Daichi pulled the ring on the tin of beer and heard a satisfying hiss of air.
ring-pull: opening mechanism on beer tins
Felix put a few tins of beer in the fridge for the barbecue on Saturday afternoon.
Eitan grabbed two cold tins from the cooler and handed one to his friend.
The corner shop sells single tins of beer as well as packs of six.
- can
the standard term in American English and often used in British English as well for beer containers
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: a beer tin is usually made of aluminium with a ring-pull tab, while a food tin is typically steel with a lid that requires a tool to open.
tins — verb
- tinspresent simple I / you / we / they
- tinses3rd person singular
- tinsing-ing form
- tinsedpast simple
1. to cover the surface of a metal object with a thin layer of tin, usually to prot
to cover the surface of a metal object with a thin layer of tin, usually to protect it from rust or to prepare it for joining with solder.
The factory used to tin the copper pots by dipping them into hot liquid tin.
passive: be tinned by dipping
Mayumi learned how to tin the tip of her soldering iron before using it on the circuit board.
Historically, craftspeople would tin iron cooking pots to prevent them from rusting over time.
The steel wires are tinned at the factory before being woven into cables for outdoor use.
- plate
a more general term; plating can involve various metals, not just tin
文法句型
tin + object
be tinned with + material
2. to preserve food by sealing it inside a metal container so that it can be stored
to preserve food by sealing it inside a metal container so that it can be stored for a long time without going bad.
Hao works at a factory that tins fish for export to markets across Europe and Asia.
transitive: tins fish (specific food item)
The company has been tinning organic vegetables at its factory in the countryside since 2010.
Adaeze's grandfather used to tin fruit from his garden every summer to enjoy it during the winter.
These tomatoes are tinned as soon as they are picked so that they stay fresh and full of flavour.
- can
the standard American English verb for preserving food in sealed metal containers
文法句型
tin + food_item
用法筆記
In American English, the verb can is used instead of tin for the process of sealing food in metal containers.