canvas

[ kan-vuhs ]

noun

1. a closely woven, heavy cloth of cotton, hemp, or linen, used for tents, sails, etc.
2. a piece of this or similar material on which a painting is made.
3. a painting on canvas.
4. a tent, or tents collectively.
5. sailcloth.
6. sails collectively.
7. any fabric of linen, cotton, or hemp of a coarse loose weave used as a foundation for embroidery stitches, interlining, etc.
8. the floor of a boxing ring traditionally consisting of a canvas covering stretched over a mat.

Trademark, Digital Technology.

1. Canvas, the brand name for an open-source learning management system, launched in 2011.

canvas

/ ˈkænvəs /

noun

1. 1. a heavy durable cloth made of cotton, hemp, or jute, used for sails, tents, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a canvas bag

2. 1. a piece of canvas or a similar material on which a painting is done, usually in oils
   2. a painting on this material, esp in oils
3. a tent or tents collectively
4. nautical any cloth of which sails are made
5. nautical the sails of a vessel collectively
6. any coarse loosely woven cloth on which embroidery, tapestry, etc, is done
7. the canvas
   the canvas the floor of a boxing or wrestling ring
8. rowing the tapering covered part at either end of a racing boat, sometimes referred to as a unit of length

   to win by a canvas

9. under canvas
   under canvas
   1. in tents
   2. nautical with sails unfurled

Other Words From

• canvas·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of canvas¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English canevas, from Anglo-French, Old North French, from unattested Vulgar Latin cannabāceus (noun use of adjective), equivalent to Latin cannab(is) + -āceus; hemp, -aceous

Word History and Origins

Origin of canvas¹

C14: from Norman French canevas, ultimately from Latin cannabis hemp

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. under canvas,
   1. Nautical. with set sails.
   2. in tents; in the field:

      the troops under canvas.

Example Sentences

The sounds she performs from the violins on canvas replicate her idea of sounds found in the cosmos.

From The Daily Beast

Picasso worked from the photograph to create the blocked, jagged shapes he painted on canvas.

From The Daily Beast

It tries to create a canvas on which people project and create their own fears.

From The Daily Beast

The movement was a willful, angry child, though, exploding away from “art” and from the canvas in particular.

From The Daily Beast

“I was really interested in adding fabrics onto my canvas,” she said, which inspired her to attend sewing camp.

From The Daily Beast

She has boldly reproduced upon canvas a fulness of life and joy, such as is rarely seen in pictures.

From Project Gutenberg

Every detail of this canvas is perfect, because every detail is true, drawn straight from life, the fruit of minute observation.

From Project Gutenberg

He, Bastien-Lepage, painter of the soil, found himself unable to transfer to canvas the enchantment of that land of fairy tale!

From Project Gutenberg

A terrific roar followed, the canvas was instantly torn open, and the whole tent fell in dire confusion on the top of its inmates.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he got slowly upon his knees, and, gently removing the incumbent folds of canvas, looked out.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• art
• artwork
• picture
• piece
• portrait
• watercolor