tin

noun

• 1 [mass noun] a silvery-white metal, the chemical element of atomic number 50. (Symbol: Sn)
• short for tinplate.
• British informal, dated money: Kim’s only in it for the tin

Tin is quite a rare element, occurring chiefly in the mineral cassiterite. Pure crystalline tin exists in two allotropic modifications, the metallic form ( white tin), and a semimetallic form ( grey tin). It is used in various alloys, notably bronze, and for electroplating iron or steel sheets to make tinplate

• 2an airtight container made of tinplate or aluminium:Albert got out the biscuit tin
• British an airtight sealed container for preserving food, made of tinplate or aluminium; a can:she had opened a tin of beans
• the contents of a tin:how many tins of paint would it take?
• British an open metal container for baking food:grease a 450g loaf tin
• British a rectangular loaf of bread baked in an open metal container.

verb (tins, tinning, tinned)

• cover with a thin layer of tin:the copper pans are tinned inside