can opener: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral, everyday. Slightly informal, but acceptable in most contexts.
Quick answer
What does “can opener” mean?
A handheld or electric kitchen tool used for cutting open metal food cans.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A handheld or electric kitchen tool used for cutting open metal food cans.
Occasionally used metaphorically to describe a person, method, or situation that reveals or makes something accessible (e.g., 'She was a can opener for the team's creative ideas').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'tin opener' is overwhelmingly more common, though 'can opener' is understood. In American English, 'can opener' is the only standard term.
Connotations
Neutral in both variants. No significant connotative difference.
Frequency
'Can opener' is high-frequency in AmE, low-frequency in BrE (where 'tin opener' dominates).
Grammar
How to Use “can opener” in a Sentence
[Subject] uses a can opener to open [Object].[Subject] opened the can with a can opener.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “can opener” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I need to tin-open these beans for dinner.
- He's in the kitchen, tin-opening the tomatoes.
American English
- She can-opened the soup quickly.
- Can you can-open this for me?
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in retail/kitware sales contexts.
Academic
Very rare, except in historical/design studies of domestic technology.
Everyday
Common in domestic and cooking contexts.
Technical
Used in product design, manufacturing, and culinary equipment manuals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “can opener”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “can opener”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “can opener”
- Confusing 'can opener' with 'bottle opener' or 'corkscrew'. Using 'can opener' for glass jars.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can technically open any standard metal can, like paint cans, though it's not recommended for non-food items due to contamination.
A manual opener requires hand-cranking force, while an electric one uses a motor to do the work automatically, which is helpful for people with limited hand strength.
In British English, food containers made of metal are traditionally called 'tins' (short for 'tinplate'), whereas American English uses 'can'. Hence, the tool is a 'tin opener' in the UK.
In informal American English, it can be verbed ('to can-open'), though it's non-standard. In British English, 'to tin-open' is occasionally heard informally.
A handheld or electric kitchen tool used for cutting open metal food cans.
Can opener is usually neutral, everyday. slightly informal, but acceptable in most contexts. in register.
Can opener: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkæn ˌəʊ.pən.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæn ˌoʊ.pən.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAN of beans shouting 'OPEN UP!' and a little tool running to help it.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCESS IS OPENING; A TOOL IS AN EXTENSION OF THE HAND.
Practice
Quiz
Which term is primarily used in British English for 'can opener'?