1. Plural of ashcan; metal containers used for holding ashes and garbage.
Usage: Common in North American English; Often used interchangeably with 'trash cans' or 'garbage cans'
2. In art history, a group of early 20th-century American realist painters known for depicting urban scenes and everyday life.
Usage: Capitalized when referring to the artistic movement; Historical/art-specific usage

Examples

• The ashcans were lined up along the curb on trash day.
• She carried the garbage out to the ashcans behind the building.
• The neighborhood kids knocked over the ashcans while playing.
• The Ashcans revolutionized American art by celebrating ordinary city life.
• Robert Henri and George Bellows were prominent members of the Ashcans movement.