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noun C1 Advanced Uncommon

canoe

kuh-NOO

Canoe (noun) means a narrow boat, pointed at both ends, propelled with single-bladed paddles. Example: “They paddled the canoe quietly across the still lake.”

noun
1
A narrow boat, pointed at both ends, propelled with single-bladed paddles.
"They paddled the canoe quietly across the still lake."
"We rented a canoe for the afternoon and explored the river bends."
verb
1
To travel by canoe.
"They canoed down the river for three days."

How to use canoe

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA narrow paddle-powered boat, or to travel in one.

Common pairings
paddle a canoe canoe trip go canoeing

Word forms

canoed past tense, canoes plural, canoes singular

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Test yourself on “canoe” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They paddled the _____ quietly across the still lake.

Etymology

Adopted in the 1500s from Spanish canoa, from an Indigenous Caribbean (Taíno) word for a dugout boat.

Origin: Spanish · First attested 1500

Class of 1500 canoe joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →

Rhymes for canoe

See all rhymes for canoe →

Frequently asked questions

What does “canoe” mean?

The word “canoe” means a narrow boat, pointed at both ends, propelled with single-bladed paddles. In plain terms, a narrow paddle-powered boat, or to travel in one.

How do you pronounce “canoe”?

“Canoe” is pronounced kuh-NOO (/kəˈnuː/ in IPA).

How do you use “canoe” in a sentence?

Here is “canoe” used in a sentence: “They paddled the canoe quietly across the still lake.”

What part of speech is “canoe”?

Depending on how it is used, “canoe” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “canoe” come from?

The word “canoe” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Spanish. Adopted in the 1500s from Spanish canoa, from an Indigenous Caribbean (Taíno) word for a dugout boat.

Is “canoe” a common word?

“Canoe” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “canoe” have?

“Canoe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a narrow boat, pointed at both ends, propelled with single-bladed paddles.

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