CANVASS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does canvass mean? 

• CANVASS (noun)
  The noun CANVASS has 7 senses:

1. the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account

2. an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people

3. a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel

4. a tent made of canvas fabric

5. an oil painting on canvas fabric

6. the mat that forms the floor of the ring in which boxers or professional wrestlers compete

7. a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

  Familiarity information: CANVASS used as a noun is common.

• CANVASS (verb)
  The verb CANVASS has 3 senses:

1. get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions

2. solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign

3. consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning

  Familiarity information: CANVASS used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CANVASS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

canvas; canvass

Context example:

the movie demanded a dramatic canvas of sound

Hypernyms ("canvass" is a kind of...):

background; scope; setting (the state of the environment in which a situation exists)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

canvass; opinion poll; poll; public opinion poll

Hypernyms ("canvass" is a kind of...):

enquiry; inquiry; research (a search for knowledge)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "canvass"):

straw poll; straw vote (an unofficial vote taken to determine opinion on some issue)

exit poll (a poll of voters as they leave the voting place; usually taken by news media in order to predict the outcome of an election)

Derivation:

canvass (get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions)

canvass (solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

canvas; canvass; sail; sheet

Hypernyms ("canvass" is a kind of...):

piece of cloth; piece of material (a separate part consisting of fabric)

Meronyms (parts of "canvass"):

reef (one of several strips across a sail that can be taken in or rolled up to lessen the area of the sail that is exposed to the wind)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "canvass"):

topsail (a sail (or either of a pair of sails) immediately above the lowermost sail of a mast and supported by a topmast)

topgallant; topgallant sail (a sail set on a yard of a topgallant mast)

square sail (a four-sided sail set beneath a horizontal yard suspended at the middle from a mast)

skysail (the sail above the royal on a square-rigger)

save-all (a sail set to catch wind spilled from a larger sail)

royal (a sail set next above the topgallant on a royal mast)

press of canvas; press of sail (the greatest amount of sail that a ship can carry safely)

mainsail (the lowermost sail on the mainmast)

headsail (any sail set forward of the foremast of a vessel)

foresail (the lowest sail on the foremast of a square-rigged vessel)

fore-and-aft sail (any sail not set on a yard and whose normal position is in a fore-and-aft direction)

crossjack; mizzen course (the lowermost sail on a mizzenmast)

balloon sail (any light loose sail)

main-topsail (a topsail set on the mainmast)

Holonyms ("canvass" is a part of...):

sailing ship; sailing vessel (a vessel that is powered by the wind; often having several masts)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A tent made of canvas fabric

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

canvas; canvas tent; canvass

Hypernyms ("canvass" is a kind of...):

collapsible shelter; tent (a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "canvass"):

big top; circus tent; round top; top (a canvas tent to house the audience at a circus performance)

field tent (a canvas tent for use in the field)

Sibley tent (a light conical canvas tent erected on a tripod with ventilation at the top)

wall tent (a canvas tent with four vertical walls)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An oil painting on canvas fabric

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

canvas; canvass

Hypernyms ("canvass" is a kind of...):

oil painting (a picture painted with oil paints)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The mat that forms the floor of the ring in which boxers or professional wrestlers compete

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

canvas; canvass

Context example:

the boxer picked himself up off the canvas

Hypernyms ("canvass" is a kind of...):

gym mat; mat (sports equipment consisting of a piece of thick padding on the floor for gymnastic sports)

Holonyms ("canvass" is a part of...):

ring (a platform usually marked off by ropes in which contestants box or wrestle)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

canvas; canvass

Hypernyms ("canvass" is a kind of...):

cloth; fabric; material; textile (artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers)

Meronyms (substance of "canvass"):

hemp (a plant fiber)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "canvass"):

tarp; tarpaulin (waterproofed canvas)

• CANVASS (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

canvass; poll

Hypernyms (to "canvass" is one way to...):

survey (make a survey of; for statistical purposes)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "canvass"):

circularise; circularize (canvass by distributing letters)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

canvass (an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people)

canvasser (someone who conducts surveys of public opinion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "canvass" is one way to...):

beg; solicit; tap (make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "canvass"):

circularize (canvass by using a questionnaire)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

canvass (an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people)

canvasser (a petitioner who solicits contributions or trade or votes)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

analyse; analyze; canvass; examine; study

Context example:

analyze your real motives

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "canvass"):

appraise; survey (consider in a comprehensive way)

consider; look at; view (look at carefully; study mentally)

sieve; sift (check and sort carefully)

investigate; look into (investigate scientifically)

follow; trace (follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something)

screen (examine methodically)

audit; inspect; scrutinise; scrutinize (examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification)

reexamine; review (look at again; examine again)

assay (analyze (chemical substances))

check; check into; check out; check over; check up on; go over; look into; suss out (examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition)

compare (examine and note the similarities or differences of)

survey (make a survey of; for statistical purposes)

diagnose (subject to a medical analysis)

diagnose; name (determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis)

anatomize (analyze down to the smallest detail)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

I confess I had never had such a question asked me before, nor had I ever canvassed it.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

So voluntarily, so freely, so coolly to canvass it!

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

We think so very differently on this point, Mr. Knightley, that there can be no use in canvassing it.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The subject which had been so warmly canvassed between their parents, about a twelvemonth ago, was now brought forward again.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I wish Frederick would spread a little more canvass, and bring us home one of these young ladies to Kellynch.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

In the Sorrows of Werter, besides the interest of its simple and affecting story, so many opinions are canvassed and so many lights thrown upon what had hitherto been to me obscure subjects that I found in it a never-ending source of speculation and astonishment.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

You cannot think what a sweet place Cleveland is; and we are so gay now, for Mr. Palmer is always going about the country canvassing against the election; and so many people came to dine with us that I never saw before, it is quite charming!

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

From this time, the subject was frequently canvassed by the three young people; and Catherine found, with some surprise, that her two young friends were perfectly agreed in considering Isabella's want of consequence and fortune as likely to throw great difficulties in the way of her marrying their brother.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

These opinions had been hardly canvassed a year before another event arose of such importance in the family, as might fairly claim some place in the thoughts and conversation of the ladies.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

As to the sad catastrophe itself, it could be canvassed only in one style by a couple of steady, sensible women, whose judgements had to work on ascertained events; and it was perfectly decided that it had been the consequence of much thoughtlessness and much imprudence; that its effects were most alarming, and that it was frightful to think, how long Miss Musgrove's recovery might yet be doubtful, and how liable she would still remain to suffer from the concussion hereafter!

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)