canal

noun

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ca·nal | \ kə-ˈnal

Definition of canal

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a tubular anatomical passage or channel : duct

2 : channel, watercourse

3 : an artificial waterway for navigation or for draining or irrigating land

4 : any of various faint narrow lines on the planet Mars seen through telescopes and once thought by some to be canals built by Martians

canal

verb

canalled or canaled; canalling or canaling

Definition of canal (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to construct a canal through or across

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More About canal

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Examples of canal in a Sentence

Noun the Panama Canal opened a much easier and shorter passageway from the Atlantic to the Pacific

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Wilson’s car flipped into a canal, where the University of Central Florida engineering graduate drowned. — Marc Freeman, sun-sentinel.com, 13 Sep. 2021 When Venice emptied out after lockdown was declared in early 2020, pictures began to surface of near-empty sidewalks and a totally clear canal, inspiring major pangs for all of us missing la dolce vita. — Devorah Lev-tov, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2021 The canal next to the boulevard leading to her apartment floods. — Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Time, 2 Sep. 2021 The architecture, the canal, and the impression of Venice are completely recognizable, almost unchanged from the scene today. — Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 31 Aug. 2021 The water was so low this winter that dredging crews were basically digging a canal, not a channel, out into Eagle Harbor. — Dan Egan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2021 The canal, the main waterway for Gulf exports to the West, was paralyzed early this year when a massive tanker ran aground there. — BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2021 Two weeks later, after an appearance on Good Morning America, Revé and John learned that their son’s severed head had been discovered in an Indian River County canal, approximately 1,205 miles north of the scene of his disappearance. — Paul M. Renfro, The New Republic, 13 Aug. 2021 Falling blocks from the temple protected the sunken galley by pinning it to the bottom of the canal, which was then filled with debris. — Radina Gigova, CNN, 3 Aug. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'canal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near canal

canakin

canal

canalboat

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Last Updated

17 Sep 2021

Cite this Entry

“Canal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canal. Accessed 23 Sep. 2021.

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More Definitions for canal

canal

noun

English Language Learners Definition of canal

: a long narrow place that is filled with water and was created by people so that boats could pass through it or to supply fields, crops, etc., with water

: a tube or passageway in the body

See the full definition for canal in the English Language Learners Dictionary

canal

noun

ca·nal | \ kə-ˈnal