canvass
[ kan-vuhs ]
/ ˈkæn vəs /
verb (used with object)
to solicit votes, subscriptions, opinions, or the like from.
to examine carefully; investigate by inquiry; discuss; debate.
verb (used without object)
to solicit votes, opinions, or the like.
noun
a soliciting of votes, orders, or the like.
a campaign for election to government office.
close inspection; scrutiny.
Origin of canvass
1500–10; orig. spelling variant of
canvas, as a v.; sense “discuss” apparently development of the earlier senses “toss in a canvas sheet,” “harshly criticize”; sense “solicit votes” obscurely derived
OTHER WORDS FROM canvass
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH canvass
canvas canvassWords nearby canvass
canular,
canute,
canvas,
canvas duck,
canvasback,
canvass,
canyon,
canyon de chelly,
canyon wind,
canyoning,
canyonlands national park
Example sentences from the Web for canvasser
British Dictionary definitions for canvasser
canvass
/ (ˈkænvəs) /
verb
to solicit votes, orders, advertising, etc, from
to determine the feelings and opinions of (voters before an election, etc), esp by conducting a survey
to investigate (something) thoroughly, esp by discussion or debate
mainly US
to inspect (votes) officially to determine their validity
noun
a solicitation of opinions, votes, sales orders, etc
close inspection; scrutiny
Derived forms of canvass
canvasser, noun canvassing, nounWord Origin for canvass
C16: probably from obsolete sense of
canvas (to toss someone in a canvas sheet, hence, to harass, criticize); the development of current senses is unexplained