tin

1 of 3

noun

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 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

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Dorothy showed the little emerald stone to her lion and tin man. Rachel Raposas, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024 Once the muffin tin eggs are cooked and cooled, they can be eaten immediately or stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Sarah Scott, Verywell Health, 23 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 See all Example Sentences for tin 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tin was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near tin

Cite this Entry

“Tin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tin. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tin

1 of 2 noun
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
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on tin

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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