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noun

canister

KA-nihst

Canister (noun) means a small container, typically metal or plastic, used to store dry goods like tea, flour, or film. Example: “She kept the flour in an airtight canister.”

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 notes

In 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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Can you complete this real example?

She kept the flour in an airtight _____.

Etymology

From Latin canistrum, a woven basket, borrowed into Middle English as canustyr.

Origin: Latin

tin case shot cannister canister shot

Related words

tin

Rhymes for canister

See all rhymes for canister →

Frequently asked questions

What does “canister” mean?

The word “canister” means a small container, typically metal or plastic, used to store dry goods like tea, flour, or film. In plain terms, a small storage container, or a metal casing used to hold gas, smoke, or ammunition.

How do you pronounce “canister”?

“Canister” is pronounced KA-nihst (/ˈkænɪstɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “canister” in a sentence?

Here is “canister” used in a sentence: “She kept the flour in an airtight canister.”

What part of speech is “canister”?

“Canister” is a noun.

Where does the word “canister” come from?

The word “canister” comes from Latin. From Latin canistrum, a woven basket, borrowed into Middle English as canustyr.

How many meanings does “canister” have?

“Canister” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small container, typically metal or plastic, used to store dry goods like tea, flour, or film.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial