Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

ashcan

American  
[ash-kan] / ˈæʃˌkæn /

noun

  1. a large metal barrel, can, or similar receptacle for ashes, garbage, or refuse.

  2. Slang. a depth charge.

  3. Movies. an arc light of 1000 watts, enclosed in a reflector.


Etymology

Origin of ashcan

First recorded in 1895–1900; ash 1 + can 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The 1940s sundered the 20th century, dispatching an entire global framework and any number of abiding social orders to the ashcan of history.

From The Guardian • Mar. 28, 2018

Even the ashcan colors and chiaroscuro lighting brighten.

From New York Times • Nov. 8, 2011

While the newspaper-trained illustrators who became the ashcan school saw ugliness as a police court scene, their friend.

From Time Magazine Archive

Shirley Anne took the head of the statue out of the ashcan.

From Time Magazine Archive

I even picked some out of the ashcan.

From An Anarchist Woman by Hapgood, Hutchins

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "ashcan" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com