¹tin

noun \ˈtin\

: a soft, shiny, bluish-white metal that has many different uses

: a container or plate made of metal

: a decorative metal box with a cover or lid

Full Definition of TIN

: a soft faintly bluish-white lustrous low-melting crystalline metallic element 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 — see element table

a : a box, can, pan, vessel, or a sheet made of tinplate; broadly : such a container of any metal (as aluminum)

b : a metal container and its contents <a tin of tomatoes>

— tin adjective

— tin·ful \-ˌfu̇l\ noun

See tin defined for English-language learners

See tin defined for kids

Origin of TIN

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to TIN

Synonyms: barrel, canister (also cannister), drum, can

Rhymes with TIN

bin, blin, chin, din, fin, Finn, Fyn, gin, grin, Gwyn, hin, in, inn, kin, linn, Lynn, pin, shin, Shin, sin, skin, spin, thin, twin, whin, win, wynn, yin, zin

²tin

transitive verb

tinnedtin·ning

Definition of TIN

: to cover or plate with tin or a tin alloy

: to put up or pack in tins : can <tinned peaches>

First Known Use of TIN

14th century

TIN

abbreviation

Definition of TIN

taxpayer identification number

TIN Defined for Kids

tin

noun \ˈtin\

Definition of TIN for Kids

: a soft bluish white metallic chemical element used chiefly in combination with other metals or as a coating to protect other metals

: something (as a can or sheet) made from tinplate <a tin of cookies>

Medical Dictionary

tin

noun \ˈtin\

Medical Definition of TIN

: 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 element table