noun
canister
KA-nihst
noun
1
A small container, typically metal or plastic, used to store dry goods like tea, flour, or film.
"She kept the flour in an airtight canister."
2
A cylindrical container used in weapons, such as a smoke or tear gas canister.
"Police fired tear gas canisters into the crowd."
How to Use Canister
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small storage container, or a metal casing used to hold gas, smoke, or ammunition.
Common pairings
tea canister
gas canister
smoke canister
Word Forms
canistered past tense, canisters plural, canisters singular
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She kept the flour in an airtight _____.
Etymology
From Latin canistrum, a woven basket, borrowed into Middle English as canustyr.