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."
"He lifted the canoe onto the car roof and tied it down."
verb
1
To travel by canoe.
"They canoed down the river for three days."
"We canoed across the lake at sunrise, watching the mist lift off the water."
"Every summer, the scouts canoe along the quiet stretches of the river."
How to use canoe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA narrow paddle-powered boat, or to travel in one.
Common pairings
paddle a canoe
canoe trip
go canoeing
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Word forms
- Plural
- canoes
- Third person singular
- canoes
- Past tense
- canoed
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.
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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