can
192
(=perhaps the road is blocked.) To talk about something in the past that is not certain may have/might have/could have are used: There might have been an accident. Can is used to ask whether something is possible: Can this really be true? (=is it possible that this is really true?) and to say that something is not possible: This can't be true. 4 Can is often used with verbs relating to the mind and the senses, such as believe, feel, hear, see: Can you see anyone you know in this photo? $\rightarrow$ see also COULD (USAGE), MIGHT (USAGE), NOT (USAGE), SEE (USAGE)
**can$^2$** /kæn/ n 1 [C] a closed metal container in which foods are preserved without air; TIN: He opened a can of beans/of beer. 2 [C] a usually round metal container with an open top or removable lid and sometimes with handles, used for holding milk, oil, waste, ashes etc: a petrol can 3 [C(of)] also **can·ful** /-fʊl/ the contents of a can 4 [the+S] slang a) prison b) AmE a TOILET 5 in the can infml (of films) completed and ready for showing 6 **can of worms** a very difficult situation which was hidden before: The court case has opened up a real can of worms. $\rightarrow$ see also carry the can (CARRY)
**can$^3$** /kæn/ v -nn- [T] to preserve (food) by putting it in a closed metal or glass container without air: The fish is canned in this factory. $\rightarrow$ see also CANNED, CANNING
**can$^4$** /kæn/ v -nn- [T] AmE infml 1 to dismiss from a job; SACK 2 to stop: Can the noise, I'm on the telephone.
**Ca·na** /ˈkeɪnə/ according to the Bible, an ancient town in GALILEE where Jesus performed his first MIRACLE, in which he changed water into wine
**Ca·naan** /ˈkeɪnən/ the name for ancient Palestine which, according to the Bible, God promised to Abraham and his people. Because of this, Canaan is also called the PROMISED LAND.
**Can·a·da** /ˈkænədə/ a country in North America, north of the US, which is made up of ten PROVINCES. Population: 30,007,094 (2001). Capital: Ottawa. Canada is the second largest country in the world. It is a member of the COMMONWEALTH and it used to be part of the BRITISH EMPIRE. Before that, part of it was governed by France, and its official languages are English and French. $\rightarrow$ see also QUEBEC —**Ca·na·di·an** /kəˈneɪdiən/ n, adj
**,Canada 'Dry** trademark a type of SOFT DRINK products, especially GINGER ALE
**Ca·na·di·an ba·con** /kəˌneɪdiən 'beɪkən/ n [U] AmE meat from the back or sides of a pig, served in thin, narrow pieces; BACON BrE
**ca·nal** /kəˈnæl/ n an artificial stretch of water dug in the ground a) to allow ships or boats to travel along it: The Panama canal joins two oceans. | The coal is delivered by canal. b) to bring water to or remove water from an area: Canals have been built to irrigate the desert. $\rightarrow$ compare CHANNEL; see also ALIMENTARY CANAL
**ca'nal boat** n a long narrow boat for use on a canal
**Can·a·let·to**, **An·to·ni·o** /ˌkænə'letəʊll-nəl'etəʊ, æn'təʊniəʊ/ (1697-1768) an Italian painter, known especially for his paintings of Venice and of the River Thames in London
**can·a·lize** also **-lise** BrE /ˈkænəl-aɪz/ v [T] 1 to deepen, straighten, or widen (a river), usually to stop flooding 2 [(into)] to direct (a variety of actions) to one particular purpose: The company intends to canalize all its efforts into improving its image with the public. —**lization** /ˌkænəl-aɪ'zeɪʃənll-nəl-ə-ˈn/ n [U]
**can·a·pé** /ˈkænəpeɪ, -peɪ/ n a small piece of bread spread with cheese, fish, or meat and usually served with drinks at a party
**ca·nard** /kæ'nɑːdlkə'nɑːrd/ n Fr a false report or piece of news
**ca·nar·y** /kəˈneəri/ n a small yellow bird often kept as a pet for its singing
**Ca'nary ,Islands**, the also **the Canaries** a group of islands near northwest Africa which belong to Spain. British tourists often visit the Canary Islands because the weather is always warm and sunny.
**Ca,nary 'Wharf** part of the DOCKLANDS area in East London, which includes Canary Wharf Tower, the tallest building in the UK, and many other large office buildings that were built in the 1980s
**ca·nas·ta** /kəˈnæstə/ n [U] a card game in which two sets (PACKS) of cards are used
**Can·ber·ra** /ˈkænbərə/ the capital city of Australia $\rightarrow$ see picture at AUSTRALIA
**cancan**
![image]
**can·can** /ˈkænkæn/ n (especially in France in the 19th century) a fast dance performed on stage in which women kick their legs high and shake their long skirts
**can·cel** /ˈkænsəl/ v -ll- BrE || -l- AmE [T] 1 to give up a planned activity, event etc; state or decide that (something) will not happen: She cancelled her trip to New York as she felt ill. | The match had to be cancelled owing to the bad weather. | We regret to announce that the 10.30 train to Glasgow has been cancelled. $\rightarrow$ compare POSTPONE 2 to destroy the force, effectiveness, or value of: I've cancelled my subscription to the magazine. | to cancel a cheque/postage stamp (=by drawing a line through it)
**cancel sthg. $\leftrightarrow$ out** phr v [T] to match exactly and so take away the effect of; balance: The losses of our overseas sections cancel out the profits made by the company at home. | The two factors cancel each other out.
**can·cel·la·tion** /ˌkænsə'leɪʃən/ n 1 [C,U] (an example of) the act of cancelling: The cancellation of the order for planes led to the closure of the factory. | The flight is fully booked, but if there are any cancellations we will let you know. 2 [C] the mark used when cancelling something, such as a postage stamp
**can·cer** /ˈkænsəʳ/ n [C,U] (a serious medical condition caused by) a diseased growth in the body, which may cause death. Cancer is a common cause of death in Western countries and is a disease that people are very frightened of getting: lung cancer | He's got a cancer in his throat. | cancer of the breast | (fig.) Violence is the cancer (=the spreading evil) of modern society. $\rightarrow$ compare CANKER; see also CARCINOGENIC **—ous** adj: a cancerous growth
**Cancer** n 1 [U] the fourth sign of the ZODIAC, represented by a CRAB$^1$, which some people believe affects the character and life of people born between June 22 and July 23 2 also **Cancerian** [C] someone who was born between June 22 and July 23 **—Cancerian** /kæn'sɪəriən/ adj
**C & A** /ˌsiː ənd 'eɪ/ trademark a former chain of stores selling inexpensive clothes. It used to have shops in many towns in the UK until they were all closed down in the late 1990s.
**can·de·la·brum** /ˌkændɪˈlɑːbrəm/ n pl. **-brums** or **-bra** /-brə/ a decorative holder for several candles or lamps $\rightarrow$ compare CANDLESTICK
**can·did** /ˈkændɪd/ adj open, honest, and sincere in manner; directly truthful, even when telling the truth is unwelcome: I would like your candid opinion of these proposals. | To be quite candid, I don't like your hairstyle. $\rightarrow$ see also CANDOUR —**ly** adv: She talked quite candidly about her unhappy marriage.
**can·di·da** /ˈkændɪdə/ n. [U] a type of FUNGUS from the Candida group, especially Candida albicans which causes THRUSH
**can·di·da·cy** /ˈkændɪdəsi/ also **can·di·da·ture** /ˈkændɪdətʃəʳ/ especially BrE — n [C,U] the fact of being a candidate, especially for a political office: He announced his candidacy for the next presidential election.
**can·di·date** /ˈkændɪdətll-deɪt, -dət/ n 1 [(for)] a person who wants to be chosen for a job or elected to a position, or