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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

canvas

/ˈkænvəs/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does canvas mean?

noun

  1. A type of coarse cloth, woven from hemp (traditionally) or from cotton and polyesters, useful for making sails, tents, and overcoats or as a surface for paintings.
  2. A piece of such cloth stretched across a frame on which one may paint an artwork.
  3. A mesh of loosely woven cotton strands or molded plastic to be decorated with needlepoint, cross-stitch, rug hooking, or other crafts.
More meanings (9)

noun

  1. (figuratively) A basis for creative work.
  2. A region on which graphics can be rendered.
  3. Sails in general.
  4. A tent.
  5. A rough draft or model of a song, air, or other literary or musical composition; especially one to show a poet the measure of the verses he is to make.
  6. Athletic shoes.
  7. (obsolete) Obsolete spelling of canvass.

verb

  1. To cover (an area or object) with canvas.
  2. (obsolete) Obsolete spelling of canvass.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈkænvəs/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Ray was lying on a flat canvas litter, under the shelter of a shelving bank, lightly shaded by a slender cottonwood tree.
Willa CatherThe Song of the LarkProject Gutenberg ebook #44
When she was ensconced on the wagonload of tenting, she sat on a roll of canvas as a queen on her throne.
Gene Stratton-PorterFrecklesProject Gutenberg ebook #111
More book examples (3)
The HISPANIOLA was under her main-sail and two jibs, and the beautiful white canvas shone in the sun like snow or silver.
Robert Louis StevensonTreasure IslandProject Gutenberg ebook #120
Rembrandt would have painted her with pleasure, and would have made her broad features look out of the canvas with intelligent honesty.
George EliotMiddlemarchProject Gutenberg ebook #145
Tough Bill not only paid for the canvas, colours, and brushes, but gave Strickland a pound of smuggled tobacco into the bargain.
W. Somerset (William Somerset) MaughamThe Moon and SixpenceProject Gutenberg ebook #222