canister Hear it!

canister definition

can·is·ter (kan′is tər)

noun

  1. a small box or can for coffee, tea, tobacco, etc.
  2. a boxlike vacuum cleaner
  3. Historical lead or iron shot in a container that scattered its contents when fired
    in full canister shot
  4. the part of a gas mask that contains the substances for filtering the air to be breathed

Etymology: ME < L canistrum, wicker basket < Gr kanastron < kanna, a reed: see cane

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

canister Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • gas: Each of the London busses has a canister of hydrogen gas on its roof.

Converse of object

  • pressurize: It consists of a pressurized metal canister containing a solution or suspension of medicine, placed within a plastic case, with a mouthpiece.

Adjective modifier

  • 35mm: Stop the itch Carry a 35mm film canister with you filled with baking soda.

Modifies a noun

  • vacuum: Some shareholders will have heard of the canister vacuum cleaner called ' Henry ' , with the cheeky face printed on it.

Noun used with modifier

  • tear-gas: When a tear-gas canister was thrown into the basement the two men decided to surrender.
canister usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"canister." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/canister>

APA Style

canister. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/canister

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