| 释义 |
can
I. \_kən, (|)kan; esp after a stressed vowel _kəŋ; esp in NewEng (|) ke(ə)n; esp dial (|) kin\ verb
(past could \_kəd, (|) ku̇d\ ; or archaic second singular (with “thou”) couldst \_kətst; (|) ku̇dzt, -u̇dst, -u̇tst\ ; present singular & plural can or archaic second singular (with “thou”) canst \_kənzt, (|) kan-, -n(t)st\)
Etymology: Middle English, know, know how, am able (1st & 3d singular present indicative of cunnen, past coude, couthe), from Old English can, con (infin. cunnan, past cūthe); akin to Old High German kan know, am able (infin. kunnan), Old Norse kann (infin. kunna), Gothic kann know (infin. kunnan), Old English cnāwan to know — more at know
transitive verb
1. obsolete : know, understand
< most of the inhabitants can no word of Cornish — Richard Carew >
2. : to be able to do, make, or accomplish
< the will of Him who all things can — John Milton >
intransitive verb
archaic : to have knowledge or skill — used with following of
< thou canst well of woodcraft — Sir Walter Scott >
verbal auxiliary
1.
a. : know how to : have the skill to
< he can read >
< she can play the piano >
b. : be physically or mentally able to
< he can lift 200 pounds >
< I can tell red from green >
c. : may perhaps : may possibly
< do you think he can still be living >
< it could be true >
d. : have the necessary courage or resolution to
< he can accept defeat without complaining >
e. : be permitted by conscience or feeling to
< can hardly blame him >
< I can forgive anything but that >
f. : be made possible or probable by circumstances to
< he can hardly have meant that >
< I could cry for shame >
g. : be inherently able or designed to
< everything that money can buy >
< this car can hold five persons >
h. : be logically or axiologically able to
< 2 + 2 can also be written 3 + 1 >
< we can reasonably conclude from this that such is the case >
i. : be enabled by law, agreement, or custom to : have a right to
< only the House can originate financial measures >
j. : have permission to — used interchangeably with may
< you can go now if you like >
— see could
2. dialect : to be able to — used as infinitive
< I may can go >
< he'll can tell us — Alexander Wardrop >
II. \ˈkan, -aa(ə)n\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English canne, from Old English; akin to Old High German channa, Old Norse kanna; all perhaps from a prehistoric North Germanic-West Germanic word borrowed from Late Latin canna, a vessel, from Latin, reed; from the long thin spout of certain ancient vessels — more at cane
1. : a receptacle (as for holding liquids) usually cylindrical in shape:
a. : a vessel for holding or carrying water, wine, beer, or other liquids
< I have brought thee in this can fresh water from the brook — William Wordsworth >
specifically : a drinking vessel
< in his hand did bear a boozing can — Edmund Spenser >
— compare cannikin
b. : a cylindrical metal receptacle usually with an open top, often with a removable cover, and sometimes with a spout or side handles (as for holding milk, oil, coffee, tobacco, ashes, or garbage)
c. : a single-trip tinplate container in which perishable foods or other products are hermetically sealed for preservation until use — called also tin
d. : a glass or earthenware jar with an airtight cover used for packing or preserving fruit or vegetables in the home
< we put up a dozen cans of tomatoes last fall >
e. : a small usually cylindrical container made of paper or paper compound — compare composite can, fiber can
2.
a. : a steam-heated hollow metal cylinder over which cloth is passed to be dried
b. : a hollow cylindrical combustion chamber of an airplane engine
c. : an air cleaner for a carburetor
3. slang : jail
4. : toilet 5 — not often in formal use
5. slang : buttocks, seat
6. : depth charge
7. : destroyer 2
•
- in the can
III. \ˈkan, -aa(ə)n\ transitive verb
(canned ; canned ; canning ; cans)
1.
a. : to put in a can; especially : to preserve by sealing in airtight cans or jars
b. : to hit (a golf ball) into the cup : hole
2. slang : to expel especially from school : discharge especially from employment
< they canned him within a month of his arrival >
3. slang : to put a stop or end to : refrain from
< can the chatter >
4.
a. : to enclose completely (as a pump or motor) in a housing
b. : to seal hermetically (as an oil tank or a package enclosed in metal foil)
5. : to record (as a singing voice) on discs or tape
< he wouldn't let me can his voice — J.A.Lomax >
< laughter canned for comedy programs >
IV. \(|)kan\ verbal auxiliary
Etymology: Middle English, alteration of gan, past of ginnen to begin — more at gin
obsolete : did
< with gentle words he can her fairly greet — Edmund Spenser >
V.
obsolete
variant of khan
VI. \ˈkan, -aa(ə)n\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: by shortening
: canvasback duck
VII. abbreviation
1. canceled; cancellation
2. canon
3. canto
4. cantoris
VIII. noun
slang : an ounce of marijuana |