City can provide language (5)
I believe the answer is:
latin
'language' is the definition.
(Latin is an example)
'city can' is the wordplay.
'city' becomes 'LA' (Los Angeles).
'can' becomes 'tin' (both are metal containers).
'la'+'tin'='LATIN'
'provide' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for latin that I've seen before include "Learning it 'an honour' (Churchill)" , "ancient tongue" , "Language of old Romans" , "The language of old Rome" , "A Romance language" .)