Ashcans Meaning in English
word · lemma: ashcan
Definition
Ashcans are containers, usually made of metal, used to collect and store ashes from fireplaces, stoves, or incinerators. The term can also refer more generally to metal garbage cans, especially in older or American English contexts.
Usage & Nuances
'Ashcan' is old-fashioned and mostly found in American English; today, 'trash can' or 'garbage can' are more common. Used in historical or literary contexts. Collocates with 'metal', 'garbage', or 'outside'. Rare in daily use now.
Example Sentences
The ashcans next to the furnace are full.
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Old houses often had ashcans behind them.
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Please empty the ashcans before they overflow.
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City workers used to come every week to collect the ashcans from the alley.
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As winter ended, the ashcans were filled with months' worth of ashes.
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He tossed the burnt paper into one of the ashcans out back.
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