can't
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
can't
contraction of cannot
Not to be confused with:
cant – insincere; the private language of the underworld; phraseology peculiar to a particular class or profession: the cant of the fashion industry; whining or singsong speech, esp. of beggars; hypocrisy, sham, pretense, humbug
recant – withdraw or disavow; revoke, rescind, deny: He recanted his confession.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
can't
(kănt) Contraction of cannot.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
can't
(kɑːnt)contraction of
cannot
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
cant1
(kænt)n.
1. insincere or hypocritical statements, esp. pious platitudes.
2. the private language of the underworld.
3. the words and phrases peculiar to a particular class, profession, etc.
4. whining or singsong speech.
v.i. 5. to talk piously or hypocritically.
6. to beg in a whining or singsong tone.
[1495–1505; < Latin base cant- in cantus song, canticus singsong, etc.; see chant]
cant2
(kænt)n.
1. a salient angle.
2. a sudden movement that tilts or overturns a thing.
3. a slanting or tilted position.
4. an oblique line or surface, as one formed by cutting off the corner of a square or cube.
6. a sudden pitch or toss.
7. Also called flitch. a partly trimmed log.
adj. 8. oblique or slanting.
v.t. 9. to bevel; form an oblique surface upon.
10. to put in an oblique position; tilt; tip.
11. to throw with a sudden jerk.
v.i. 12. to take or have an inclined position; tilt; turn.
[1325–75; Middle English: side, border < Anglo-French cant, Old French chant]
cant′ic, adj.
can't
(kænt, kɑnt) contraction of cannot.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.