canvass

UK: /ˈkænvəs/ US: /ˈkænvəs/ ,(kan′vəs)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

can•vass /ˈkænvəs/   v. 

1. Government to ask for votes, etc., from (a district): [~ + object]
   She canvassed her friends and the people on her block.
   [no object* sometimes: ~ + for + object]
   She was canvassing for votes most of the week.

n. [countable]

2. Government an act of asking for votes, views, etc.:
   a quick canvass of voters leaving the polls.

can•vass•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

can•vass  (kan′vəs), v.t. 

1. Government to solicit votes, subscriptions, opinions, or the like from.
2. Government to examine carefully;
   investigate by inquiry;
   discuss;
   debate.

v.i. 

3. Government to solicit votes, opinions, or the like.

n. 

4. Government a soliciting of votes, orders, or the like.
5. Government a campaign for election to government office.
6. Government close inspection;
   scrutiny.

• 1500–10; origin, originally spelling, spelled variant of canvas, as a verb, verbal; sense "discuss'' apparently development of the earlier senses "toss in a canvas sheet,'' "harshly criticize''; sense "solicit votes'' obscurely derived

can′vass•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. . analyze, scrutinize, explore.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

canvass / ˈkænvəs/ verb

1. to solicit votes, orders, advertising, etc, from
2. to determine the feelings and opinions of (voters before an election, etc), esp by conducting a survey
3. to investigate (something) thoroughly, esp by discussion or debate
4. to inspect (votes) officially to determine their validity

noun

1. a solicitation of opinions, votes, sales orders, etc
2. close inspection; scrutiny

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from obsolete sense of canvas (to toss someone in a canvas sheet, hence, to harass, criticize); the development of current senses is unexplained

ˈcanvasser noun

ˈcanvassing noun