canvass - Definitions from Dictionary.com

8 results for: canvass

Stretched Canvas manufacturer of stretched canvas and stretcher strips www.gotrickinc.com/	Sponsored Links

Top Quality Artist Canvas Mural, Floor Cloth, Artist Canvas Clearance Sale! Deep Discounts www.primomart.com

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

can·vass

Audio Help [kan-vuh

s] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object)

1.	to solicit votes, subscriptions, opinions, or the like from.

2.	to examine carefully; investigate by inquiry; discuss; debate.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to solicit votes, opinions, or the like.

–noun

4.	a soliciting of votes, orders, or the like.

5.	a campaign for election to government office.

6.	close inspection; scrutiny.

[Origin: 1500–10; orig. sp. var. of canvas, as a v.; sense “discuss” appar. development of the earlier senses “toss in a canvas sheet,” “harshly criticize”; sense “solicit votes” obscurely derived

]

—Related forms

can·vass·er, noun

—Synonyms 2. analyze, scrutinize, explore.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
canvass

To learn more about canvass visit Britannica.com

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

can·vass Audio Help   (kān'vəs) Pronunciation Key
v.   can·vassed, can·vass·ing, can·vass·es

v.   tr.

To examine carefully or discuss thoroughly; scrutinize: "The evidence had been repeatedly canvassed in American courts" (Anthony Lewis).
1. To go through (a region) or go to (persons) to solicit votes or orders.
2. To conduct a survey of (public opinion); poll.

v. intr.

To make a thorough examination or conduct a detailed discussion.
To solicit voters, orders, or opinions.

An examination or discussion.
A solicitation of votes or orders.
A survey of public opinion.

[From obsolete canvass, to toss in a canvas sheet as punishment, from canvas.]

can'vass·er n.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
canvass

1508, from canvas and probably meaning, originally, "to toss in a canvas sheet," though "to sift through canvas" has also been proposed.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

canvass
noun
1.	the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account; "the crowded canvas of history"; "the movie demanded a dramatic canvas of sound" [syn: canvas]
2.	an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people [syn: poll]
3.	a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel [syn: sail]
4.	a tent made of canvas fabric [syn: canvas tent]
5.	an oil painting on canvas fabric [syn: canvas]
6.	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: canvas]
7.	a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents) [syn: canvas]
verb
1.	get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions [syn: poll]
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; "analyze a sonnet by Shakespeare"; "analyze the evidence in a criminal trial"; "analyze your real motives" [syn: analyze]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
canvass [ˈkӕnvəs] verb

to go round (an area) asking (people) for (support, votes, custom etc)
Example: We're canvassing for the Conservative Party candidate.

Arabic:	يَطوفُ بالمَنازِلِ طَلَبا للأصْوات
Chinese (Simplified):	游说；拉选票
Chinese (Traditional):	遊說；拉選票
Czech:	agitovat
Danish:	propagandere
Dutch:	klanten, stemmen werven
Estonian:	hääli hankima
Finnish:	kampanjoida
French:	faire campagne pour
German:	Stimmen werben
Greek:	ψηφοθηρώ
Hungarian:	korteskedik
Icelandic:	safna undirskriftum, *atkvæðum
Indonesian:	kampanye
Italian:	fare propaganda*

Japanese:	勧誘して回る
Korean:	유세하고 다니다
Latvian:	aģitēt; vākt balsis
Lithuanian:	agituoti
Norwegian:	samle underskrifter, *støtte
Polish:	zabiegać o głosy
Portuguese (Brazil):	angariar votos
Portuguese (Portugal):	angariar
Romanian:	a face campanie (electorală)
Russian:	агитировать
Slovak:	agitovať
Slovenian:	nabirati glasove
Spanish:	hacer propaganda, hacer campaña
Swedish:	gå runt och värva röster
Turkish:	oy toplamak; kapı kapı dolaşmak

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Canvass

Can"vass\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. canvassed; p. pr. & vb. n. Canvassing.] [OF. Canabasser to examine curiously, to search or sift out; properly, to sift through canvas. See Canvas, n.]

1. To sift; to strain; to examine thoroughly; to scrutinize; as, to canvass the votes cast at an election; to canvass a district with reference to its probable vote.

I have made careful search on all hands, and canvassed the matter with all possible diligence. --Woodward.

2. To examine by discussion; to debate.

An opinion that we are likely soon to canvass. --Sir W. Hamilton.

3. To go trough, with personal solicitation or public addresses; as, to canvass a district for votes; to canvass a city for subscriptions.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Canvass

Can"vass\, v. i. To search thoroughly; to engage in solicitation by traversing a district; as, to canvass for subscriptions or for votes; to canvass for a book, a publisher, or in behalf of a charity; -- commonly followed by for.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Canvass

Can"vass\, n. 1. Close inspection; careful review for verification; as, a canvass of votes. --Bacon.

2. Examination in the way of discussion or debate.

3. Search; exploration; solicitation; systematic effort to obtain votes, subscribers, etc.

No previous canvass was made for me. --Burke.

Browse Nearby Entries: