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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
canvass — can·vass also can·vas / kan vəs/ vb vassed also vased, vass·ing, also, vas·ing vt 1 a: to examine in detail; specif: to examine (votes) officially for authenticity b: to make the subject of discussion or debate … Law dictionary
Canvass — Can vass, n. 1. Close inspection; careful review for verification; as, a canvass of votes. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. Examination in the way of discussion or debate. [1913 Webster] 3. Search; exploration; solicitation; systematic effort to obtain… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
canvass — can‧vass [ˈkænvəs] verb [transitive] MARKETING 1. to ask people about something in order to get their opinion or to get information: • People were canvassed for their opinions on the scheme. canvasser noun [countable] : • You may get a brief… … Financial and business terms
canvass — c.1500, from CANVAS (Cf. canvas) and probably meaning, originally, to toss in a canvas sheet, hence to shake out, examine carefully (1520s); to solicit votes (1550s); though to sift through canvas also has been proposed as the basic metaphor. The … Etymology dictionary
canvass — [v] poll; discuss issues agitate, analyze, apply, argue, campaign, check, check over, consult, debate, dispute, electioneer, examine, inspect, investigate, review, run, scan, scrutinize, sift, solicit, study, survey, ventilate; concepts… … New thesaurus
canvass — ► VERB 1) visit (someone) in order to seek their vote in an election. 2) question (someone) to find out their opinion. 3) Brit. propose (an idea or plan) for discussion. ► NOUN ▪ an act of canvassing. DERIVATIVES canvasser noun … English terms dictionary
canvass — [kan′vəs] vt. [< CANVAS < ? use of canvas for sifting] 1. to examine or discuss in detail; look over carefully 2. to go through (places) or among (people) asking for (votes, opinions, orders, etc.) vi. to try to get votes, orders, etc.;… … English World dictionary
canvass — I UK [ˈkænvəs] / US verb Word forms canvass : present tense I/you/we/they canvass he/she/it canvasses present participle canvassing past tense canvassed past participle canvassed 1) a) [intransitive/transitive] to ask many people in an area for… … English dictionary
canvass — can|vass [ˈkænvəs] v [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: canvass to throw up in the air from a canvas sheet as a game or punishment (16 17 centuries), from canvas] 1.) [I and T] to try to persuade people to support a political party, politician, plan etc… … Dictionary of contemporary English
