Bin

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /bɪn/

Definitions

1. A container used for holding or storing various materials or objects ; to throw away or dispose of something considered unwanted
2. A receptacle designed to keep items organized and contained ; the act of discarding something as rubbish or no longer needed
3. An object used to hold or collect goods or waste ; to get rid of something by putting it in the trash

Etymology: The noun "bin" meaning a container for storage is one of those words whose ancestors were not containers at all in many cases but were specifically baskets and wicker vessels, and the Celtic connection is the most striking part. The likely source is a Celtic word, possibly "benna," a Gaulish term for a wicker wagon or cart, which was also linked to a Middle Welsh word "benn" for a caisson or box. The same root produced German "Benne," meaning wheelbarrow, and Middle Dutch "benne," meaning basket, which is why the Dutch "ben" and the West Frisian "bin" both still mean a wicker basket. Note that the link between the Gaulish and Germanic forms is uncertain, and the Celtic origin is a likely rather than a proven pathway. The English noun probably came in through a Germanic route, but the exact path is not fully settled, so treat the chain as plausible rather than fixed.

Synonyms: container, box, receptacle, basket

Antonyms: open space