canal

[ kuh-nal ]

noun

1. an artificial waterway for navigation, irrigation, etc.
2. a long narrow arm of the sea penetrating far inland.
3. a tubular passage or cavity for food, air, etc., especially in an animal or plant; a duct.
4. channel; watercourse.
5. Astronomy. one of the long, narrow, dark lines on the surface of the planet Mars, as seen telescopically from the earth.

verb (used with object)

, ca·nalled or ca·naled, ca·nal·ling or ca·nal·ing.

1. to make a canal through.

canal

/ kəˈnæl /

noun

1. an artificial waterway constructed for navigation, irrigation, water power, etc
2. any of various tubular passages or ducts

   the alimentary canal

3. any of various elongated intercellular spaces in plants
4. astronomy any of the indistinct surface features of Mars originally thought to be a network of channels but not seen on close-range photographs. They are caused by an optical illusion in which faint geological features appear to have a geometric structure

verb

1. to dig a canal through
2. to provide with a canal or canals

Word History and Origins

Origin of canal¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English: “waterpipe, tubular passage,” from Latin canālis, perhaps equivalent to can(na) “reed, pipe” ( cane ) + -ālis -al ¹; canal def 5 a mistranslation of Italian canali “channels,” the term used by G. V. Schiaparelli

Word History and Origins

Origin of canal¹

C15 (in the sense: pipe, tube): from Latin canālis channel, water pipe, from canna reed, cane ¹

Example Sentences

The genetic condition can cause serious medical complications such as spinal cord compression, sleep apnoea, bowed legs, narrowing of the spinal canal and recurrent ear infections.

From Science Daily

He was later captured by police while riding a bicycle on a canal towpath in west London.

From BBC

When her 44-year-old mother caught up with her the man told them he would push them both into the canal.

From BBC

Another short stroll to the Venice Canals can transport you seemingly worlds away to a network of European-style canals and past a magical, people-powered carousel for kids — neither of which are accessible by car.

From Los Angeles Times

The 13-year-old's body was discovered weighed down in a nearby canal months later.

From BBC