tin

1 of 3

noun

ˈtin 

1

: a soft faintly bluish-white lustrous low-melting crystalline metallic element with atomic number 50 that is malleable and ductile at ordinary temperatures and that is used especially in containers, as a protective coating, in tinfoil, and in soft solders and alloys

—often used before another noun

tin cans

a tin roof

see Chemical Elements Table

2

plural tins

a

: a box, can, pan, vessel, or a sheet made of tinplate

broadly : such a container of any metal (such as aluminum)

b

: a metal container and its contents

a tin of tomatoes

tin adjective

tinful

ˈtin-ˌfu̇l 

noun

tin

2 of 3

verb

tinned; tinning

transitive verb

1

: to cover or plate with tin or a tin alloy

2

: to put up or pack in tins : can

tinned peaches

TIN

3 of 3

abbreviation

taxpayer identification number

Synonyms

Noun

• barrel
• can
• canister
• cannister
• drum

Examples of tin in a Sentence

Noun

row upon row of tins containing food for an emergency that never happened

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The company offers two sizes of burlap gift bags, and the larger of them can hold as many as 16 different spice tins. —The Courier-Journal, 4 Nov. 2024

Thanksgiving Tin Foil Containers: $14.95 (Amazon) Use these festive tins from Amazon to carry your Thanksgiving treats to your holiday parties. —Nora Colomer, Fox News, 28 Oct. 2024

Verb

The menu includes dishes such as toast and tinned fish, pate de campagne with grainy mustard and cornichons, and Siberian caviar service with crème fraiche, chives, and potato chips. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2024

Published on June 20, 2024 Francisco Nogueira For decades, American travelers skipped the tile and tinned fish capital of Europe for the glitz and glam of the Med. —Katie Jackson, Robb Report, 20 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German zin tin

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tin

• tin can
• tin ear
• tin hat
• tin lizzie
• tin opener
• tin-plate
• tin-pot
• tin whistle

Kids Definition

tin

1 of 2 noun

ˈtin 

1

: a soft shiny bluish white metallic element that is used in combination with other metals, as a protective coating, and in tinfoil see element

2

a

: a container made of metal (as tinplate)

a pie tin

b

: a sealed can holding food

tin adjective

tin

2 of 2 verb

tinned; tinning

1

: to cover or plate with tin or a mixture of tin with another metal

2

: to put up or pack in tins : can

Medical Definition

tin

noun

ˈtin 

: a soft faintly bluish white lustrous low-melting crystalline metallic element that is malleable and ductile at ordinary temperatures and that is used as a protective coating, in tinfoil, and in soft solders and alloys

—symbol Sn see Chemical Elements Table

Legal Definition

TIN

abbreviation

taxpayer identification number