Canvas
/ˈkæn.vəs/
Definitions
2 meaningsA piece of heavy cloth, usually of linen or cotton, used by artists for oil painting or other artwork.
/ˈkæn.vəs/
A piece of strong cloth used by artists for painting on.
The artist mixed her paints on a palette before applying them to the canvas.
💡 Simply: Cloth for painting on.
More Examples
The old canvas was torn and faded.
How It's Used
"The artist stretched the canvas before beginning to paint."
"The canvas material is used to make tents and bags."
A background or surface on which something is created or displayed.
/ˈkæn.vəs/
A background or setting for something.
The vast desert provided a dramatic canvas for the sunset.
💡 Simply: A background or setting.
How It's Used
"The city streets provided a vibrant canvas for his street art."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Old French *canevas, from Old French *canevas, diminutive of cane ‘reed’, from Latin *canna ‘reed’. Originally referring to coarse linen cloth, its use expanded to include the surface for painting.
Originally a coarse linen fabric, the term 'canvas' evolved to encompass its artistic application over time.
Memory tip
Think of a painter's CANVAS, a cloth for art.
Word Origin
"reed"