tin
gb/tˈɪn/ us/tˈɪn/
A2
English
~ 3000
ón, konzervdoboz, konzerv, tragacs, alufólia, ónfólia
NOUN
B1
1
ón
B2
Tin is often used to coat steel to prevent rust.
Az ónt gyakran használják acél bevonására, hogy ne rozsdásodjon.
The craftsman melted the tin to make a small figurine.
A mesterember megolvasztotta az ónt, hogy egy kis szobrocskát készítsen.
Tin has been mined in this region for hundreds of years.
They discovered traces of tin in the ancient pottery.
Tin is one of the oldest known metals.
Learner examples
This can is made of tin.
Ez a konzervdoboz ónból készült.
Tin is a kind of metal.
Az ón egyfajta fém.
The roof is covered with tin.
They found tin in the ground.
Tin is soft and easy to shape.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tin' with 'can' in all contexts. While many cans are made from tin-coated steel, 'tin' itself is the metal, not the container.
Meaning
A soft silvery-white metal
Collocations
tin can
|tin foil
|tin mine
|tin roof
|tin coating
Synonyms
metal (A general term for metallic substances; less specific than 'tin'.)
Antonyms
nonmetal (Refers to elements or materials without metallic properties, opposite in type to tin.)
Themes
materials
|manufacturing
|science
|technology
Definition
A soft, light-colored metal that is used to make cans and cover other metals to stop rust.
A chemical element with the symbol Sn, known for being a soft, silvery-white metal used in alloys and coatings.
NOUN
A2
2
konzervdoboz
B1
konzerv
A2
She opened a tin of tomatoes for the pasta sauce.
Felnyitott egy paradicsomkonzervet a tésztaszószhoz.
We packed several tins of tuna for the trip.
Az útra több tonhalkonzervet is elcsomagoltunk.
The child made a drum out of an empty tin.
He stacked the tins neatly on the shelf.
Learner examples
I bought a tin of soup.
Vettem egy leveskonzervet.
She opened a tin of fish.
Felnyitott egy halkonzervet.
There is a tin of tea on the table.
We have many tins in the cupboard.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'tin' when 'can' is more natural in American English; the choice depends on dialect.
Meaning
A sealed metal container for food or drink
Collocations
tin of beans
|tin opener
|empty tin
|tin lid
Synonyms
can ('Can' is more common in American English, while 'tin' is common in British English for food containers.)
Antonyms
jar (A rigid container, usually glass, used instead of a tin for storage.)
Themes
food
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
A small metal container that holds food or drink.
A sealed metal container, typically cylindrical, used for storing food or drink.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
3
tragacs
B2
He drives around in that old tin and refuses to buy a new one.
Azzal az öreg tragaccsal furikázik, és nem hajlandó újat venni.
This tin barely makes it up the hill.
Ez a tragacs alig bír felmenni az emelkedőn.
The mechanic said my tin isn’t worth fixing.
Learner examples
My car is an old tin.
Az autóm egy öreg tragacs.
He drives a rusty tin.
Egy rozsdás tragacsot vezet.
That tin is very slow.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this usage is informal and somewhat derogatory; avoid in formal contexts.
Meaning
An old or cheap car (informal)
Collocations
old tin
|rusty tin
Synonyms
banger (British slang for an old, unreliable car; more colloquial than 'tin'.)
Antonyms
luxury car (A high-quality, expensive vehicle; opposite in quality and condition to 'tin' in this sense.)
Themes
transport
|slang
|transportation
|daily_life
Definition
An old car that does not work well.
(Informal) An old or badly made car, often considered worthless.
NOUN
A2
4
Cover the dish with tin foil before baking.
Fedd le az edényt alufóliával sütés előtt.
He wrapped the sandwich in tin foil.
Alufóliába csomagolta a szendvicset.
Tin foil was crumpled on the picnic table.
Learner examples
Wrap the cake in tin foil.
Csomagold a süteményt alufóliába.
I need some tin foil for cooking.
Szükségem van egy kis alufóliára a főzéshez.
She covered the food with tin foil.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'tin foil' always contains real tin; today it usually does not.
Meaning
Thin foil made from tin or coated metal
Collocations
tin foil
|wrap in tin
Synonyms
aluminum foil ('Aluminum foil' is more accurate today; 'tin foil' is traditional wording.)
Antonyms
plastic wrap (A flexible plastic film used for wrapping food instead of metal foil.)
Themes
cooking
|materials
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
Very thin metal sheet used to wrap food or other things.
Thin sheets of metal, traditionally made from tin but now often aluminum, used especially for wrapping food.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tin
IPA
GB/tˈɪn/
US/tˈɪn/
Syllables & stress
tin (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tin)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tin
- Plural: tins
Word family
Forms
tins
noun
Core family
tinned
adjective
Related words
tinny
adjective
tinfoil
noun
Expressions
tin ear
1/tˈɪn ˈɪɹ/
idiom
informal
Inability to detect musical pitch or tone sensitivity
Not able to hear music notes correctly or understand how words sound to others.
Examples
- He has such a tin ear he can't tell when he's singing out of tune.
- Her speech showed she had a political tin ear, ignoring public concerns.
tin god
1/tˈɪn ɡˈɑd/
idiom
informal
Self-important person with little power
Someone who acts very important but does not really have much power or respect.
Examples
- The manager is a bit of a tin god around here, making petty rules.
- She refuses to work for a tin god who belittles staff.
worth one's weight in tin
1/wˈɚθ wˈʌnz wˈeɪt ˈɪn tˈɪn/
idiom
informal
Valuable but less than top standard
Useful or valuable, but not as much as something better known as the best (like gold).
Examples
- This old tractor is worth its weight in tin for what it can still do.
- In this town, a good mechanic is worth his weight in tin.