canvass

canvass
I. verb also canvas (canvassed; canvassing) Date: 1508 transitive verb 1. obsolete to toss in a canvas sheet in sport or punishment 2. a. to examine in detail; specifically to examine (votes) officially for authenticity b. discuss, debate 3. to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments <
canvass voters
>
intransitive verb to seek orders or votes ; solicitcanvasser also canvaser noun II. noun also canvas Date: circa 1611 the act or an instance of canvassing; especially a personal solicitation of votes or survey of public opinion

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • 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

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