PHP Constants Containing Arrays?

Can even work with Associative Arrays.. for example in a class.

class Test {

    const 
        CAN = [
            "can bark", "can meow", "can fly"
        ],
        ANIMALS = [
            self::CAN[0] => "dog",
            self::CAN[1] => "cat",
            self::CAN[2] => "bird"
        ];

    static function noParameter() {
        return self::ANIMALS[self::CAN[0]];
    }

    static function withParameter($which, $animal) {
        return "who {$which}? a {$animal}.";
    }

}

echo Test::noParameter() . "s " . Test::CAN[0] . ".<br>";
echo Test::withParameter(
    array_keys(Test::ANIMALS)[2], Test::ANIMALS["can fly"]
);

// dogs can bark.
// who can fly? a bird.

if you're using PHP 7 & 7+, you can use fetch like this as well

define('TEAM', ['guy', 'development team']);
echo TEAM[0]; 
// output from system will be "guy"

If you are looking this from 2009, and you don't like AbstractSingletonFactoryGenerators, here are a few other options.

Remember, arrays are "copied" when assigned, or in this case, returned, so you are practically getting the same array every time. (See copy-on-write behaviour of arrays in PHP.)

function FRUITS_ARRAY(){
  return array('chicken', 'mushroom', 'dirt');
}

function FRUITS_ARRAY(){
  static $array = array('chicken', 'mushroom', 'dirt');
  return $array;
}

function WHAT_ANIMAL( $key ){
  static $array = (
    'Merrick' => 'Elephant',
    'Sprague' => 'Skeleton',
    'Shaun'   => 'Sheep',
  );
  return $array[ $key ];
}

function ANIMAL( $key = null ){
  static $array = (
    'Merrick' => 'Elephant',
    'Sprague' => 'Skeleton',
    'Shaun'   => 'Sheep',
  );
  return $key !== null ? $array[ $key ] : $array;
}