Canning

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈkænɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The act of preserving food by placing it in sealed containers to prevent deterioration and allow long-term storage
2. The process of placing food in airtight jars or tins to keep it edible for an extended period
3. Sealing edible items in containers to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage over time

Etymology: Sealing food in airtight containers and heating it to keep it from spoiling was worked out by a French confectioner, who was rewarded by his government for a method that could keep armies fed. Early versions used glass jars, which broke easily on campaign, so metal containers soon took their place. The verb is simply the noun "can," which in English long meant a drinking vessel or container. The process was named after the container, so to can food meant to put it into a can.

Synonyms: preserving, jarred, bottling, packaging, storing