Definition

1. Noun:

   • A heavy, closely woven fabric: A strong, durable material traditionally made from cotton, hemp, or linen, used for items like sails, tents, awnings, and artist's surfaces.
   • A piece of this fabric used for painting: The surface, typically stretched on a wooden frame, on which an artist paints an oil or acrylic picture.
   • The floor of a boxing or wrestling ring: The mat covering the floor area where such contests take place.
   • A tent made of this fabric.
   • A sail on a sailing vessel.
   • An inquiry into public opinion: A survey, especially one conducted to gather opinions or information, often related to politics or elections.

2. Verb:

   • To solicit votes or opinions: To go through an area or contact people to seek their support in an election or to gauge their views on an issue.
   • To examine or discuss in detail: To scrutinize, analyze, or debate a topic, plan, or idea thoroughly.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The artist prepared a large canvass for her next painting.
  • After the punch, the boxer fell onto the canvass.
  • The campaign team conducted a canvass of the neighborhood to understand voter concerns.

• Verb:

  • Volunteers will canvass the district this weekend to promote their candidate.
  • The committee decided to canvass all possible options before making a final decision.

Advanced Usage

• "to canvass for": To actively seek support or votes for a specific person, party, or cause.

  • She spent the summer canvassing for the environmental initiative.

• "to canvass opinion": To conduct a survey to gather people's views.

  • The company is canvassing opinion on the proposed new design.

Variants and Related Words

• Canvasser (n): A person who goes from place to place soliciting votes, opinions, or sales.

  • The canvasser knocked on every door in the street.

• Canvassing (n): The activity of soliciting votes or conducting a survey.

  • Door-to-door canvassing is a traditional part of election campaigns.

Synonyms

• Noun (fabric): Duck, sailcloth.
• Noun (survey): Poll, survey, inquiry.
• Verb (solicit): Campaign, solicit, drum up support.
• Verb (examine): Analyze, scrutinize, review, debate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Canvass out: To cover an area thoroughly while soliciting support or opinions. (Less common, often just "canvass" is used).
  • We need to canvass the entire town.

Related Idioms

• On the canvas: In boxing, referring to a boxer who has been knocked down onto the mat.
  • The champion was on the canvas for a full ten seconds.
• A blank canvas: Something that offers many possibilities because it is not yet developed or defined; derived from the artist's blank canvas.
  • The new project is a blank canvas for our creativity.

Noun

1. a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
2. the mat that forms the floor of the ring in which boxers or professional wrestlers compete
   • the boxer picked himself up off the canvas
3. an oil painting on canvas fabric
4. a tent made of canvas fabric
5. a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
6. an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people
7. the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account
   • the crowded canvas of history
   • the movie demanded a dramatic canvas of sound

Verb

1. consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
   • analyze a sonnet by Shakespeare
   • analyze the evidence in a criminal trial
   • analyze your real motives
2. solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign
3. get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions