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to tin

to tin

4.9
To preserve food by putting it into a sealed metal can
  • verb
  • /tɪn/
  • UK
translation icon : enlatar
  • She decided to tin the peaches so they would last through the winter.

So I'll start here, and I've tinned it all up as well.

Examples

  • After cooking the soup, he tinned it carefully to preserve it for later.

  • She'd been tinning tomatoes all afternoon, and she hadn't been paying close attention to Alexis.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • So I'll start here, and I've tinned it all up as well.

  • They always tin their vegetables to enjoy fresh flavors throughout the year.

Synonyms

to can
vsto tin
89 4.2

To put food into a sealed metal container so it lasts longer

focuses on preserving for storage or shipping rather than on the heating process
to put up
vsto tin
4 5.6

Store fruit in jars or cans to eat later

is used for storage or shipping rather than mainly home food preservation
to jar
vsto tin
2.8

To put food into glass or clay containers to keep it for later

focuses on metal containers for storage or shipping rather than glass

Idioms

1 9.6

Nervous and unable to stay still

Very nervous and unable to stay still because of worry or excitement

8.9

To stand very still and straight with a stiff body

Works exactly as described and does what is promised

Compounds

7 1.0

A small metal container for keeping food or drink

5 1.0

A thin sheet of metal used to wrap or cover food

An area in New York where many popular songwriters and music publishers worked in the early 1900s

tin ear
  • Offensive
2 9.4

Cannot hear small differences in music or people's speech

2 3.4

A small metal toy shaped like a soldier that children play with

tin man
  • Offensive
1 8.1

A person who does not show feelings or care for others

tin god
  • Offensive
1 9.1

A person who thinks they have great power and acts very arrogant

1 1.3

A tool for opening metal cans

1 1.0

A metal pan people use to bake cakes

tin can
  • Jargon
1 8.4

A small fast warship with light armor used in battle

tin man
  • Literature
1 4.6

A man made of metal who wants a real heart to feel emotions

1 4.2

A small simple metal flute that you play by blowing used in folk music

1 4.1

A thin sheet of metal covered with tin used to make cans and kitchen items

tin-plating
  • Specialized
4.6

Putting a thin layer of tin on metal to stop rust and make it look better

tin-pot business
  • Offensive
7.5

A small, badly run company that seems unimportant

8.5

A small cruel government that controls people and seems foolish

8.4

An unimportant suggestion that people do not take seriously

tin-pot operation
  • Offensive
7.9

A small badly run business or group that seems unimportant

tin hat
  • Archaic
4.1

A light helmet that construction workers wear to protect their heads

tin man
  • Archaic
6.8

A person who makes or fixes household items from thin metal

tin man
  • Archaic
4.1

A small toy man made of thin metal, often a soldier

tin disease
  • Specialized
9.9

White tin turns into grey powder at low temperatures and makes metal crumble

tin pest
  • Specialized
9.9

A change in tin that makes it break easily and turn into grey powder in very cold weather

tin plague
  • Specialized
9.9

White tin turns into a brittle grey powder in very cold temperatures

tin pyrites
  • Archaic
9.9

A dark grey mineral that people mine to get tin

Surface Forms

tin infinitive
tinned past
tinned past participle
tinning present participle
tins third person singular

Etymology

Tin meaning to preserve food comes from putting food into a metal tin, so to 'tin' food is to put it in a metal box to make it last, as in 'tinned' fish.