Word.ws English Dictionary

can-opener

can-opener is the alternative form of can opener.

Meaning of can opener

Noun

can opener (plural can openers)

  1. A device used to open tin cans, usually by slicing the lid off.
    Synonyms:
    tin opener
  2. (roller derby) A shoulder hit to the chest, usually accomplished while moving from a crouched to a standing position.
  3. (slang) A tool for safecracking.
    • Even the work of opening a safe with nitroglycerine or with a can opener places the criminal in a state of nervous tension.1933, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce, Investigation of So-Called "Rackets": Hearings, page 697
  4. (slang) A ramming maneuver, that opens up the target ship like a tin can.
  5. (slang) An anti-tank munition or attack vehicle, that opens up armour like a tin can.

Forms of can-opener

pluralcan-openers

Questions about can-opener

What is can-opener the alternative form of?
Can-opener is the alternative form of can opener.

Words near can-opener in the dictionary

  1. can-eater
  2. can-eaters
  3. can-kicking
  4. can-kickings
  5. Can-oling
  6. can-opener
  7. can-openers
  8. Can-untog
  9. Can.
  10. Cana
  11. Canaan

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: can-opener (page history and authors); can opener (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated:

Cite this entry: “can-opener.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/can-opener. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.