1 N‑UNCOUNT Tin is a soft silvery-white metal. □ …a factory that turns scrap metal into tin cans. □ …a tin-roofed hut.
2 N‑COUNT A tin is a metal container which is filled with food and sealed in order to preserve the food for long periods of time. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ of ] She popped out to buy a tin of soup. ● N‑COUNT A tin of food is the amount of food contained in a tin. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ of ] He had survived by eating a small tin of fruit every day. in AM, use can 3 N‑COUNT A tin is a metal container with a lid in which things such as biscuits, cakes, or tobacco can be kept. □ Store the cookies in an airtight tin. [Also + of ] ● N‑COUNT A tin of something is the amount contained in a tin. □ [+ of ] They emptied out the remains of the tin of paint and smeared it on the inside of the van.
4 N‑COUNT A baking tin is a metal container used for baking things such as cakes and bread in an oven. [BRIT ] □ Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 45 minutes. in AM, use pan , baking pan
tinc|ture /t I ŋktʃə r / (tinctures ) N‑VAR A tincture is a medicine consisting of alcohol and a small amount of a drug. □ [+ of ] …a few drops of tincture of iodine.
tin|der /t I ndə r / N‑UNCOUNT Tinder consists of small pieces of something dry, especially wood or grass, that burns easily and can be used for lighting a fire.
tinder|box /t I ndə r bɒks/ (tinderboxes ) also tinder box N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you say that a situation is a tinderbox , you mean that it is very tense and something dangerous or unpleasant is likely to happen very soon.
tine /ta I n/ (tines ) N‑COUNT The tines of something such as a fork are the long pointed parts. [FORMAL ]
tin|foil /t I nfɔ I l/ also tin foil N‑UNCOUNT Tinfoil consists of shiny metal in the form of a thin sheet which is used for wrapping food.
tinge /t I ndʒ/ (tinges ) N‑COUNT A tinge of a colour, feeling, or quality is a small amount of it. □ His skin had an unhealthy greyish tinge. □ [+ of ] Could there have been a slight tinge of envy in Eva's voice?
tinged /t I ndʒd/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is tinged with a particular colour, it has a small amount of that colour in it. □ [+ with ] His dark hair was just tinged with grey.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is tinged with a particular feeling or quality, it has or shows a small amount of that feeling or quality. □ [+ with ] Her homecoming was tinged with sadness.
tin|gle /t I ŋg ə l/ (tingles , tingling , tingled )
1 VERB When a part of your body tingles , you have a slight stinging feeling there. □ [V ] The backs of his thighs tingled. ● tin|gling N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ in ] Its effects include tingling in the hands and feet.
2 VERB If you tingle with a feeling such as excitement, you feel it very strongly. □ [V + with ] She tingled with excitement. □ [V ] When I look over and see Terry, I tingle all over. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Tingle is also a noun. □ [+ of ] I felt a sudden tingle of excitement.
tin|gly /t I ŋgli/
1 ADJ If something makes your body feel tingly , it gives you a slight stinging feeling. □ These lotions tend to give the skin a tingly sensation.
2 ADJ If something pleasant or exciting makes you feel tingly , it gives you a pleasant warm feeling. □ He had a way of sounding so sincere. It made me warm and tingly.
tink|er /t I ŋkə r / (tinkers , tinkering , tinkered ) VERB If you tinker with something, you make some small changes to it, in an attempt to improve it or repair it. □ [V + with ] Instead of the Government admitting its error, it just tinkered with the problem. □ [V ] It is not enough to tinker at the edges; we must reconstruct the entire system. ● tink|er|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ No amount of tinkering is going to improve matters.
tin|kle /t I ŋk ə l/ (tinkles , tinkling , tinkled )
1 VERB If something tinkles , it makes a clear, high-pitched, ringing noise, especially as small parts of it strike a surface. □ [V prep/adv] A fresh cascade of splintered glass tinkled to the floor. □ [V -ing] We strolled past tinkling fountains and perfumed gardens. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Tinkle is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …a tinkle of broken glass.
2 VERB If a bell tinkles or if you tinkle it, it makes a quiet ringing noise as you shake it. □ [V ] An old-fashioned bell tinkled as he pushed open the door. □ [V n] Miss Peel tinkled her desk bell and they all sat down again. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Tinkle is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the tinkle of goat bells.
tinned /t I nd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Tinned food is food that has been preserved by being sealed in a tin. [mainly BRIT ] □ …tinned tomatoes. □ …tinned salmon. in AM, usually use canned
tin|ny /t I ni/
1 ADJ If you describe a sound as tinny , you mean that it has an irritating, high-pitched quality. □ He could hear the tinny sound of a radio playing a pop song.
2 ADJ If you use tinny to describe something such as a cheap car, you mean that it is made of thin metal and is of poor quality. □ It is one of the cheapest cars on the market, with tinny bodywork.