canal

1 of 2

noun

ca·​nal kə-ˈnal 

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

2 of 2

verb

canalled or canaled; canalling or canaling

transitive verb

: to construct a canal through or across

Synonyms

Noun

• aqueduct
• channel
• conduit
• course
• flume
• racecourse
• raceway
• watercourse
• waterway

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

Sanitation was helped by public water works, such as canals in Urukor water wells and a large public bath in the Indus city of Mohenjo Daro. —R. Alexander Bentley, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024

Turn right on the Toledo and stroll along the canals in the Naples Island neighborhood. —Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024

Whether wandering along the weaving canal in Amsterdam, getting lost in Venice’s ancient streets, or strolling along the beach in Miami, walking is the best way to discover a new destination. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024

When there is insufficient rainfall, trees act like sponges, releasing water into the canal's lakes. —Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Latin canalis pipe, channel, from canna reed — more at cane

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1792, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing canal

• alimentary canal
• birth canal
• ear canal
• haversian canal
• resin canal
• root canal
• semicircular canal
• spinal canal
• stone canal
• vertebral canal

Kids Definition

canal

noun

ca·​nal

kə-ˈnal

1

: a tube-shaped bodily passage or channel : duct

2

: an artificial waterway for boats or for draining or irrigating land

3

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

Medical Definition

canal

noun

ca·​nal kə-ˈnal 

: a tubular anatomical passage or channel : duct see alimentary canal, Haversian canal, inguinal canal