Word Direct Answers

What does "canvass" mean?

Canvass: To examine by discussion; to debate. An opinion that we are likely soon to canvass. Sir W. Hamilton.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To go trough, with personal solicitation or public addresses; as, to canvass a district for votes; to canvass a city for subscriptions.
  2. 3.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.
  3. 4.Close inspection; careful review for verification; as, a canvass of votes. Bacon.
  4. 5.Examination in the way of discussion or debate.
  5. 6.Search; exploration; solicitation; systematic effort to obtain votes, subscribers, etc. No previous canvass was made for me. Burke.

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