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trash barrel

trash barrel

2 1.1
A large round bin for holding rubbish until someone collects it
  • noun
  • /træʃ ˈbɛrəl/
  • US
translation icon : contenedor de basura
  • He opened the lid of the trash barrel to see if anything useful was inside.
  • bottles into the trash barrel

Examples

  • He lifted the top of the trash barrel and dropped the bundle in.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • You threw it in the trash barrel?

  • Just walks over to the house and throws the beer can in our trash barrel.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • As Jesse hoisted the last of the debris into the trash barrel, something metallic.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The body was wedged into one of the large, nearly empty trash barrels near the picnic benches.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • They sit near trash barrels under a huge plaster half shell, fishing nets, and blue lights.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I scratched the tiny, stinging cuts around my ankles while thick smoke curled from the trash barrel.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • She threw the old papers into the trash barrel before the cleaning crew arrived.

  • The city installed new trash barrels in the park to encourage recycling.

Synonyms

garbage
vstrash barrel
  • US
214 1.0

A container where people put waste to be taken away

is larger and cylindrical, used for holding collected rubbish before pickup
dumpster
vstrash barrel
  • US
190 2.7

A large metal container for holding garbage outside buildings

is similar in size but is cylindrical and often used for general curbside rubbish
bin
vstrash barrel
119 1.0

A container with a lid for storing or throwing away things

is specifically large and cylindrical, meant for holding collected rubbish
trash can
vstrash barrel
  • US
72 1.0

A container for holding rubbish until it is collected

is larger and cylindrical, intended for bulk outdoor rubbish storage
garbage can
vstrash barrel
  • US
60 1.0

A bin with a lid that holds household waste until someone takes it away

is larger and cylindrical, used for greater amounts of rubbish
trash bag
vstrash barrel
  • US
20 1.0

A strong plastic bag used to hold and carry garbage

is a fixed large cylindrical container meant for holding collected rubbish
wastebasket
vstrash barrel
  • US
15 1.0

A container with an open top for holding paper and small bits of rubbish

is bigger and cylindrical, designed for bulk collection rather than small indoor waste
recycling bin
vstrash barrel
11 1.6

A container for paper, plastic, or glass that will be recycled

is for general rubbish collection and not for separated recyclable materials
dustbin
vstrash barrel
  • UK
10 1.0

A container for household rubbish

is larger and cylindrical, suited for bigger outdoor waste volumes
trash bin
vstrash barrel
  • US
4 1.0

A container for holding rubbish until it is taken away

is larger and cylindrical, designed for bigger outdoor waste storage
waste basket
vstrash barrel
  • US
2 1.3

A container with an open top for small trash like paper

is larger and cylindrical, aimed at holding bigger outdoor rubbish amounts
ashcan
vstrash barrel
  • Archaic
1 5.5

A metal container for holding ashes and other rubbish until it is taken away

is larger and cylindrical, focused on bulk outdoor rubbish storage
ashbin
vstrash barrel
  • UK
1 4.8

A container that holds rubbish until someone empties it

is larger and cylindrical, for general waste rather than ashes specifically
bottle bank
vstrash barrel
  • UK
1 2.7

A large public container where people put empty glass bottles for recycling

is for general mixed rubbish and not for specific bottle recycling
wastebin
vstrash barrel
  • UK
1.0

A bin for rubbish kept until it is collected

is larger and cylindrical, emphasizing greater capacity for waste
litter-basket
vstrash barrel
  • UK
1.5

A bin in public places where people put trash

is larger and cylindrical, intended mainly for holding collected waste rather than public disposal
litter basket
vstrash barrel
  • UK
1.4

A bin in public places for people to put rubbish in

is larger and cylindrical, designed for bulk rubbish awaiting collection
litterbin
vstrash barrel
  • UK
1.6

A bin in public places where people put rubbish

is larger and cylindrical, normally used for holding collected refuse rather than casual litter
designated bin
vstrash barrel
3.0

A container for a specific kind of waste, for example food or batteries

is a large general container for mixed rubbish awaiting collection
waste-paper basket
vstrash barrel
  • UK
1.0

A small open container for throwing away paper and other small rubbish

is larger and cylindrical, for storing substantial amounts of rubbish outside
ash-bin
vstrash barrel
1.6

A container for household rubbish that collectors empty

is larger and cylindrical, intended for general rubbish rather than ash only
ash bin
vstrash barrel
  • Archaic
2.3

A container for cold ashes and small pieces of household trash

is for general rubbish and is larger and cylindrical for greater capacity
rubbish bag
vstrash barrel
  • UK
1.0

A strong plastic bag used to hold household waste

is a rigid large cylindrical container offering structured outdoor waste storage
circular file
vstrash barrel
  • Informal
7.5

A joke name for a wastebasket where unwanted papers go

is a real, large cylindrical receptacle for actual rubbish storage

How Big

dumpster
  • US
190 2.7
trash barrel
  • US
2 1.1
trash can
  • US
72 1.0
wastebasket
  • US
15 1.0

Surface Forms

trash barrel singular
trash barrels plural

Morphology

trash + barrel

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'trash' (rubbish) with 'barrel' (a large container), yielding a container for rubbish. This is a straightforward noun–noun composition and follows common compounding patterns that are cross-linguistically familiar. Even if 'barrel' sometimes suggests a liquid container, the extension to a large cylindrical rubbish container is predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it.

Etymology

The noun trash barrel comes from people using a barrel to hold trash. Picture a big wooden barrel where people threw rubbish, and that image explains why it means 'a large container for rubbish'.