Etymology : Middle English canevas, from Old North French, from Vulgar Latin cannabaceus hempen, from Latin cannabis hemp; more at CANNABIS
Pronunciation :
Function : noun
Date : 13th century
1. coarse material (used for sails, tents, as a painting surface, etc.); painting which has been painted on canvas. made of or resembling canvas or another coarse fabric. cover with canvas; examine, scrutinize; discuss; solicit votes or opinions. canvas\can"vas\, a. made of, pertaining to, or resembling, canvas or coarse cloth; as, a canvas tent.canvas \can"vas\ , n. [oe. canvas, canevas, f. canevas, ll. canabacius hempen cloth, canvas, l. cannabis hemp, fr. g. . see:
hemp.].
2. a strong cloth made of hemp, flax, or cotton; -- used for tents, sails, etc. by glimmering lanes and walls of canvas led.
3. (a) a coarse cloth so woven as to form regular meshes for working with the needle, as in tapestry, or worsted work. (b) a piece of strong cloth of which the surface has been prepared to receive painting, commonly painting in oil. history does not bring out clearly upon the canvas the details which were familiar. h. newman.
4. something for which canvas is used: (a) a sail, or a collection of sails. (b) a tent, or a collection of tents. (c) a painting, or a picture on canvas. to suit his canvas to the roughness of the see:
light, rich as that which glows on the canvas of claude.
5. a rough draft or model of a song, air, or other literary or musical composition; esp. one to show a poet the measure of the verses he is to make.canvas n.
6. heavy closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents) [syn: canvass].
7. an oil painting on canvas [syn: canvass].
8. the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account; "the crowded canvas of history;" "the movie demanded a dramatic canvas of sound" [syn: canvass].
9. a tent made of canvas [syn: canvas tent, canvass].
10. a large piece of fabric (as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel [syn: sail, canvass, sheet].
11. the mat that forms the floor of the ring in which boxers or professional wrestlers compete; "the boxer picked himself up off the canvas" [syn: canvass] v 1: solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign [syn: canvass] 2: get the opinions of people, for example [syn: poll, canvass].
12. A strong cloth made of hemp, flax, or cotton; used for tents, sails, etc.
13. A coarse cloth so woven as to form regular meshes for working with the needle, as in tapestry, or worsted work.
14. A piece of strong cloth of which the surface has been prepared to receive painting, commonly painting in oil.
15. Something for which canvas is used: A sail, or a collection of sails. A tent, or a collection of tents. A painting, or a picture on canvas.
16. A rough draft or model of a song, air, or other literary or musical composition; esp. one to show a poet the measure of the verses he is to make.
17. Made of, pertaining to, or resembling, canvas or coarse cloth; as, a canvas tent. heavy closely woven fabric the mat that forms the floor of the ring in which boxers or professional wrestlers compete; "the boxer picked himself up off the canvas" an oil painting on canvas the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account; "the crowded canvas of history"; "the movie demanded a dramatic canvas of sound" cover with canvas; "She canvassed the walls of her living room so as to conceal the ugly cracks".
18. 1. Canvas is a strong, heavy cloth that is used for making things such as tents, sails, and bags. a canvas bag.
19. A canvas is a piece of canvas or similar material on which an oil painting can be done.
20. A canvas is a painting that has been done on canvas. The show includes canvases by masters like Carpaccio, Canaletto and Guardi. = painting. Stout cloth. Canvas (probably named for cannabis, or hemp), has been made from hemp and flax fibres since ancient times to produce cloth for sails. More recently it has also been made from tow, jute, cotton, and mixtures of such fibres. Flax canvas is essentially of double warp (see:
weaving), being invariably intended to withstand pressure or rough usage. Articles made from canvas include camera and golf bags, running shoes, tents, and mailbags. Tarred canvas is used for tarpaulins to cover goods. Artists' canvas for painting is much lighter than sail canvas; those of the best quality are made of cream or bleached flax fibre.