canal
pronunciation
How to pronounce canal in British English:
UK [kəˈnæl]
How to pronounce canal in American English:
US [kəˈnæl]
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- Noun:
- (astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
- a bodily passage or tube lined with epithelial cells and conveying a secretion or other substance
- long and narrow strip of water made for boats or for irrigation
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- Verb:
- provide (a city) with a canal
Word Origin
- canal (n.)
- early 15c., from French canal, chanel "water channel, tube, pipe, gutter" (12c.), from Latin canalis "water pipe, groove, channel," noun use of adjective from canna "reed" (see cane (n.)). Originally in English "a pipe for liquid," its sense transferred by 1670s to "artificial waterway."
Example
- 1. Workers at the suez canal have begun striking .
- 2. Many experts say they expect the canal to remain open .
- 3. And she actually pushed toad off the barge into the canal .
- 4. Nasser decided to raise that money by nationalizing the suez canal .
- 5. Small blockages or collapses of the canal would choke the intricate irrigation networks .