canvas n
1. heavy closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents) [syn: canvass]
2. an oil painting on canvas [syn: canvass]
3. the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account; "the crowded canvas of history"; "the movie demanded a dramatic canvas of sound" [syn: canvass]
4. a tent made of canvas [syn: canvas tent, canvass]
5. a large piece of fabric (as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel [syn: sail, canvass, sheet]
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: canvass] v
7. solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign [syn: canvass]
8. get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions [syn: poll, canvass]
9. cover with canvas; "She canvassed the walls of her living room so as to conceal the ugly cracks"
10. 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, analyse, study, examine, canvass]

Canvas \Can"vas\, n. [OE. canvas, canevas, F. canevas, LL. canabacius hempen cloth, canvas, L. cannabis hemp, fr. G. ?. See Hemp.]
1. A strong cloth made of hemp, flax, or cotton; -- used for tents, sails, etc. By glimmering lanes and walls of canvas led. --Tennyson. 2. (a) A coarse cloth so woven as to form regular meshes for working with the needle, as in tapestry, or worsted work. (b) A piece of strong cloth of which the surface has been prepared to receive painting, commonly painting in

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Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame. It is also used in such fashion objects as handbags and shoes.

The word canvas is derived from the 13th century Anglo-French canevaz and the Old French canevas. Both may be derivatives of the Vulgar Latin cannapaceus for "made of hemp," originating from the Greek κάνναβις (cannabis).

Modern canvas is usually made of cotton or linen, although historically speaking, it was made from hemp. It differs from other heavy cotton fabrics, such as denim, in being plain weave rather than twill weave. Canvas comes in two basic types: plain and duck. The threads in duck canvas are more tightly woven. The term duck comes from the Dutch word for cloth, doek. In the United States, canvas is classified in two ways: by weight (ounces per square yard) and by a graded number system. The numbers run in reverse of the weight so a number 10 canvas is lighter than number 4.

• Photo in Canvas Offers Diverse Collection of Canvas Prints for Alternative Art - Prfire (press release)
  (United Kingdom – 14th May 2012) The Photo in Canvas Art Shop is bursting with an eclectic range of canvas prints which not only offer colour but also personality. Classic and contemporary designs are featured on high quality canvas prints to bring ... Read more on this news related to 'Canvas'
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  Even being the die-hard "Game of Thrones" fans we are, it's tough for us to keep track of all of the many kingdoms and realms that make HBO's epic fantasy so satisfyingly dense. But the latest prize in our weekly "Thrones" giveaway might help: We're ... Read more on this news related to 'Canvas'
• DC Police Canvas Neighborhood to Solve Cold Case - NBC Washington
  A D.C. mother has teamed up with police to try and solve her son’s 2008 murder. On Saturday, Debra Seals and police cadets canvassed the Northeast neighborhood where her son was shot and killed. Back in April of 2008, Melvin Seals was killed ... Read more on this news related to 'Canvas'