canal
kuh-NAL
Canal (noun) means a man-made waterway built for boats, irrigation, or drainage. Example: “We cycled along the canal and watched a narrowboat glide slowly through the lock.”
noun
1
A man-made waterway built for boats, irrigation, or drainage.
"We cycled along the canal and watched a narrowboat glide slowly through the lock."
"Barges once carried coal along the canal."
"The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans."
2
A tube-shaped passage inside the body or a plant.
"Food travels down the alimentary canal after you swallow it."
"Water moves up through a narrow canal inside the stem of the plant."
"The dentist worked carefully on the root canal."
How to use canal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn artificial waterway, or by extension, a narrow channel-like passage in the body.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
canal boat
root canal
canal lock
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Word forms
- Plural
- canals
- Third person singular
- canals
- Past tense
- canalled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We cycled along the _____ and watched a narrowboat glide slowly through the lock.
Etymology
From Old French canal, from Latin canalis, "channel", ultimately from a word for "reed" — a doublet of "channel".
Synonyms
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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.
What is the difference between a canal and a river?
A river is a natural watercourse that forms and flows on its own, while a canal is a man-made waterway built for boats, irrigation, or drainage. Canals follow engineered routes and often use locks to manage water levels.
What is the difference between a canal and a channel?
A canal is always artificial, dug for transport, irrigation, or drainage, whereas a "channel" can be a natural deep part of a waterway or a broad strait between land masses. All canals are channels in the broad sense, but not all channels are canals.
What are common collocations with "canal"?
Common phrases include "shipping canal," "irrigation canal," and "drainage canal" for waterways, plus "root canal," "ear canal," and "birth canal" for anatomical passages. The word pairs naturally with terms describing its purpose or location.
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