ENGLISH
REFERENCE

canal

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //kəˈnæɫ// UK //kənˈæl// canal General-service

n. an artificial river built for boats to travel through or to move water to dry land. You often see them in cities or connecting two large bodies of water.

n. an artificial waterway constructed to allow the passage of boats or ships inland or to convey water for irrigation. In anatomical contexts, it refers to a tubular passage or duct for fluids or air.


SIMPLE

The boat travels slowly down the narrow canal.

CONTEXTUAL

The city built a new canal to improve trade and transport goods more efficiently to the coast.

COMPLEX

Engineers designed the canal with a series of locks to manage the significant elevation changes between the two river systems, ensuring safe passage for heavy cargo vessels.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French canal, from Old French canal, from Latin canālis (“channel; canal”), from canālis (“canal”), from canna (“reed, cane”), from Ancient Greek κάννα (kánna, “reed”), from Akkadian 𒄀 (qanû, “reed”), from Sumerian 𒄀𒈾 (gi.na). Doublet of channel.

Usage

Commonly used with 'through' or 'along' to describe movement.

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