Dictionary
1canvas
noun can·vas \ˈkan-vəs\
: a strong, rough cloth that is used to make bags, tents, sails, etc.
: a specially prepared piece of cloth on which a picture can be painted by an artist
: a painting made on a piece of cloth
Full Definition of CANVAS
1
: a firm closely woven cloth usually of linen, hemp, or cotton used for clothing and formerly much used for tents and sails
2
: a set of sails : sail
3
: a piece of canvas used for a particular purpose
4
: tent; also : a group of tents
5
a : a piece of cloth backed or framed as a surface for a painting; also : the painting on such a surface b : the background, setting, or scope of a historical or fictional account or narrative
6
: a coarse cloth so woven as to form regular meshes for working with the needle
7
: the canvas-covered floor of a boxing or wrestling ring
— can·vas·like \-vəs-ˌlīk\ adjective
See canvas defined for English-language learners
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Variants of CANVAS
can·vas also can·vass \ˈkan-vəs\
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Origin of CANVAS
Middle English canevas, from Anglo-French canevas, chanevaz, from Vulgar Latin *cannabaceus hempen, from Latin cannabis hemp — more at cannabis
First Known Use: 13th century
Related to CANVAS
- Synonyms
- painting (also canvass), oil, oil painting
2canvas
verb
canvased or canvassedcanvas·ing or canvass·ing
Definition of CANVAS
transitive verb
: to cover, line, or furnish with canvas
First Known Use of CANVAS
1556
CANVASLIKE Defined for Kids
canvas
noun can·vas \ˈkan-vəs\
Definition of CANVAS for Kids
1
: a strong cloth of hemp, flax, or cotton <canvas bags>
2
: a specially prepared piece of cloth used as a surface for painting
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