canal
Canal (noun) means a man-made waterway built for boats, irrigation, or drainage. Example: “Barges once carried coal along the canal.”
How to Use Canal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn artificial waterway, or by extension, a narrow channel-like passage in the body.
Word Forms
canalled past tense, canals plural, Canals plural, canals singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Barges once carried coal along the _____.
Etymology
From Old French canal, from Latin canalis, "channel", ultimately from a word for "reed" — a doublet of "channel".
Rhymes for canal
See all rhymes for canal →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “canal” mean?
The word “canal” means a man-made waterway built for boats, irrigation, or drainage. In plain terms, an artificial waterway, or by extension, a narrow channel-like passage in the body.
How do you pronounce “canal”?
“Canal” is pronounced kuh-NAL (/kəˈnæl/ in IPA).
How do you use “canal” in a sentence?
Here is “canal” used in a sentence: “Barges once carried coal along the canal.”
What part of speech is “canal”?
“Canal” is a noun.
Where does the word “canal” come from?
The word “canal” comes from Latin. From Old French canal, from Latin canalis, "channel", ultimately from a word for "reed" — a doublet of "channel".
Is “canal” a common word?
“Canal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “canal” have?
“Canal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a man-made waterway built for boats, irrigation, or drainage.