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“Canvas” or “Canvass”

Overview

canvas / canvass are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

canvas: (noun) a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents). (noun) an oil painting on canvas fabric. (noun) the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account. (noun) the mat that forms the floor of the ring in which boxers or professional wrestlers compete. (verb) cover with canvas.

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

Pronunciation

canvas: k·AE·n·v·ah·s

canvass: k·AE·n·v·ah·s

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Examples in Context

Examples of “canvas”

  • what he has put on canvas can teach you about our
  • Melbourne, L'Estrange erected a large canvas enclosure in The Domain and
  • the paint remain on the canvas and look at it and
  • and his paintings (acrylic on canvas, paper or twill fabric) are
  • technique, executed on a large canvas.
  • Black Canvas Still Life (March 14, 1977)
  • "throw[ing] paint haphazardly" at the canvas, and then responding to "imagery
  • paints primarily with acrylics on canvas, twill fabric, or paper.
  • Woman is an oil on canvas portrait of an unknown woman,
  • DeMartine, then president of the Canvas Goods Association, had at that

Examples of “canvass”

  • Canvass White died in 1834, before
  • Canvass White, an engineer and inventor,
  • are afoot to widen the canvass of services to other cities
  • registered voters before he would canvass for the nominations from the
  • Hugh White, the brother of Canvass (who had assumed construction supervisory
  • Canvass White turned over operation of


(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)


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