# canvas

/ˈkænvəs/ (US) · /kˈænvəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/canvas
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. strong fabric

noun · CEFR B1

a strong, heavy cloth used to make items that need to last, like tents, sails, or sturdy bags.

For teachers: a durable, coarse, plain-woven fabric made of hemp, flax, or cotton, used for industrial and outdoor applications.

- The hikers slept in a heavy canvas tent that kept out the wind.
- The vintage military rucksack was constructed from a thick, waxed canvas designed to withstand years of exposure to the elements.

### 2. painting surface

noun · CEFR B1

a piece of strong cloth stretched over a wooden frame, used by artists for painting.

For teachers: a piece of heavy fabric stretched across a wooden frame (stretcher) to serve as a support for oil or acrylic painting.

- The artist bought a large canvas to start her new landscape painting.
- Before applying the first layer of oil paint, the student carefully primed the canvas with gesso to ensure a smooth surface.

### 3. sails

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the sails of a boat or ship.

For teachers: a collective term for the sails of a vessel. Often used in the phrase 'under canvas'.

- The ship looked beautiful with all its canvas spread out in the wind.
- The schooner moved gracefully across the bay under full canvas, its white sails gleaming against the dark water.

### 4. creative background

noun · CEFR B2

a background or situation that allows someone to be creative.

For teachers: a metaphorical space or background providing the opportunity for creative expression or detailed description.

- The city provided a colorful canvas for the young writer's first novel.
- The director used the historical setting as a broad canvas on which to explore themes of betrayal and redemption.

### 5. to cover

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to cover an area or an object with canvas cloth.

For teachers: to cover, line, or protect a surface or object with canvas fabric.

- The workers had to canvas the roof to protect it from the rain.
- The deck was carefully canvassed and painted to ensure it remained watertight during the long winter months.

## Examples

- The artist painted a beautiful landscape on the large canvas.
- The sailors quickly patched the canvas sails before the storm reached the ship.
- Modern galleries often display raw canvas to highlight the texture of the weave, whereas classical masters preferred to hide the fabric under thick layers of primer and oil paint.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.