canvas
gb/kˈænvəs/ us/kˈænvəs/
B1
English
~ 5900
vászon, vitorlavászon, festővászon, vászonra festett kép, munkaterület, rajzvászon, ring padlója, padló, ringvászon, tágabb összefüggés, széles háttér, átfogó kép, vászonnal borít be, bevásznaz, vászonnal bevon
NOUN
B1
1
vászon
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] uses canvas to make [something]
They used thick canvas to make the camping tent.
A kempingsátrat vastag vászonból készítették.
Her old backpack is made of green canvas with leather straps.
A régi hátizsákja zöld vászonból készült, bőrszíjakkal.
The boat’s cover is a piece of waterproof canvas.
Learner examples
My shoes have canvas on the top and rubber on the bottom.
A cipőm felső része vászon, az alsó része pedig gumi.
We slept under a roof of canvas in the desert.
Vászontető alatt aludtunk a sivatagban.
He bought some canvas to make a new bag.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "canvas" with the verb "canvass" (to ask people for votes or opinions). "Canvas" with one "s" is usually a cloth or surface; "canvass" with two "s" is the verb.
Meaning
Strong heavy woven cloth
Collocations
heavy canvas
|canvas bag
|canvas tent
|canvas shoes
|cotton canvas
|waterproof canvas
Synonyms
sailcloth (Also a strong, heavy cloth, especially used for sails; slightly more specific than canvas.)
Antonyms
silk (A light, smooth, and delicate cloth, contrasting with the rough, heavy feel of canvas.)
Themes
materials
|art
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A thick, strong cloth used to make things like tents, bags, and painting surfaces.
A strong, heavy, woven cloth, usually made from cotton, linen, or similar fibers, used for things like tents, sails, bags, and as a base for paintings.
NOUN
B1
2
festővászon
B1
vászon
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] paints on a canvas
She stared at the blank canvas, unsure how to begin.
Tanácstalanul bámulta az üres vásznat, nem tudta, hogyan kezdjen hozzá.
The artist carefully stretched the canvas over the wooden frame.
A művész gondosan ráfeszítette a vásznat a fakeretre.
Before adding color, he primed the canvas with a thin white layer.
Learner examples
The artist puts the canvas on the easel.
A művész felteszi a vásznat a festőállványra.
He starts with a simple sketch on the canvas.
Először egyszerű vázlatot készít a vászonra.
I bought a small canvas to try oil painting.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the finished painting itself. Here, "canvas" is the empty or partly used surface the artist works on, not necessarily the final artwork as an object for sale or display.
Meaning
Surface prepared for painting
Collocations
blank canvas
|stretched canvas
|canvas board
|prime the canvas
|paint on canvas
|oil on canvas
Synonyms
painting surface (A more general term for any surface used for painting; not specific to cloth.)
Antonyms
wall (A common contrasting surface for painting murals, not a portable prepared painting surface like a canvas.)
Themes
art
|education
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A piece of strong cloth that an artist paints on, usually stretched over a wooden frame.
A piece of strong cloth, often stretched over a frame or fixed to a board, used as the surface for an oil or acrylic painting.
NOUN
B2
3
vászon
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] buys a canvas by [artist]
The museum recently acquired a late canvas by Van Gogh.
A múzeum nemrég megszerezte Van Gogh egyik kései vásznát.
Several of her abstract canvases were hung in the main hall.
Több absztrakt vásznát is kiállították a nagyteremben.
This small canvas is one of the artist’s most valuable works.
Learner examples
The gallery showed ten new canvases by a young painter.
A galéria egy fiatal festő tíz új vásznát mutatta be.
He sold a canvas to a private collector.
Eladott egy vászonra festett képet egy magángyűjtőnek.
This canvas is my favorite work in the room.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "canvas" always means the empty cloth. In art writing, "a canvas" often means a finished painting made on canvas, especially when talking about an artist’s works.
Meaning
Painting made on canvas
Collocations
a small canvas
|a large canvas
|an early canvas
|a famous canvas
|a Monet canvas
|a Picasso canvas
Synonyms
painting (General word for a painted picture on any surface; "canvas" here highlights the traditional medium and sounds slightly more art-critical or formal.)
Antonyms
sculpture (A three-dimensional artwork, contrasting with a flat painted canvas.)
Themes
art
|culture
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A painting on canvas, spoken of as one object, especially in a gallery or museum.
A painting whose support is canvas, often referred to as an individual work of art.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] adds [something] to the canvas
You can drag images onto the canvas and resize them freely.
A képeket ráhúzhatod a vászonra, és szabadon átméretezheted őket.
The app opens with a blank canvas ready for your design.
Az alkalmazás induláskor egy üres vásznat nyit meg, készen a terv elkészítésére.
Developers can draw shapes directly on the HTML canvas element.
Learner examples
Zoom in on the canvas to see the details.
Nagyíts rá a vászonra, hogy lásd a részleteket.
She moved the text box to the top of the canvas.
A szövegdobozt a vászon tetejére helyezte.
The program lets you draw on a digital canvas with your finger.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "canvas" in software always refers to art. In many design and productivity tools, it simply means the main visual work area, even if you are arranging text, charts, or UI elements rather than painting.
Meaning
Digital area for drawing or layout
Collocations
design canvas
|digital canvas
|HTML canvas
|zoom in on the canvas
|drag onto the canvas
|clear the canvas
Synonyms
workspace (A general term for the working area in software; "canvas" emphasizes the visual or graphical space.)
Antonyms
toolbar (The control area with tools and buttons, contrasting with the main drawing or layout area (the canvas).)
Themes
technology
|design
|art
|arts_entertainment
Definition
In computer programs, the empty space where you can draw, design, or place things on the screen.
In computing and design, a defined visual area on a screen or in software where graphics, text, or other elements are created, arranged, or displayed.
NOUN
B2
5
Usage pattern:
[someone] falls to the canvas
The challenger hit the canvas in the third round.
A kihívó a harmadik menetben padlóra került.
One hard right hook sent him crashing to the canvas.
Egy kemény jobbhorog a padlóra küldte.
She got back up after being on the canvas for a few seconds.
Learner examples
The boxer falls to the canvas after the punch.
A bokszoló az ütés után a ring padlójára esik.
He is on the canvas, but he tries to stand up.
A padlón van, de megpróbál felállni.
The fight ends when the champion stays on the canvas.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "canvas" here means a painting or art material. In sports reports, especially about boxing or mixed martial arts, "the canvas" almost always means the ring floor.
Meaning
Floor of a boxing ring
Collocations
hit the canvas
|on the canvas
|down on the canvas
|fall to the canvas
|sent to the canvas
Synonyms
ring floor (A more descriptive term; "canvas" is the usual boxing word and sounds more vivid and technical.)
Antonyms
ropes (In boxing, the ropes mark the edge and support fighters, contrasting with the flat surface they stand and fall on (the canvas).)
Themes
sports
|media
Definition
The flat cloth floor of a boxing ring where boxers stand and can fall down.
The cloth-covered floor of a boxing ring on which fighters stand and may fall during a match.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
6
Usage pattern:
[someone] works on a broad canvas
The novel is set against the broad canvas of twentieth‑century European history.
A regény a huszadik századi európai történelem széles háttere előtt játszódik.
The documentary paints on a wider canvas, connecting local events to global trends.
A dokumentumfilm tágabb összefüggésbe helyezi a témát: a helyi eseményeket globális trendekhez kapcsolja.
Within this larger political canvas, individual stories are sometimes lost.
Learner examples
The movie shows the big canvas of life in a small town.
A film átfogó képet ad egy kisváros életéről.
His book uses a broad canvas to talk about many years of war.
A könyve átfogó képet ad a háború hosszú éveiről.
The writer likes a large canvas, with many places and many people.
Common mistake:
Learners may interpret this meaning too literally as an actual painting surface. In reviews or essays, "canvas" often means the whole background or range of events that a story or explanation covers.
Meaning
Overall scope of a subject
Collocations
a broad canvas
|a wider canvas
|the historical canvas
|the political canvas
|within this canvas
Synonyms
scope (Almost the same meaning; "canvas" is more figurative and literary, often used in reviews or criticism.)
Antonyms
detail (Focus on small, specific parts rather than the whole picture or broad canvas.)
Themes
literature
|media
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The whole range of things in a subject or situation, looked at as one big picture, not in small details.
The full scope or range of something, especially a subject, period, or situation considered in broad outline rather than detail.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
7
Usage pattern:
[someone] canvases [something] with cloth
They decided to canvas the small boat before the rainy season.
Úgy döntöttek, hogy az esős évszak előtt vászonnal borítják be a kis csónakot.
The old wagon had been carefully canvased to protect the goods inside.
A régi szekeret gondosan bevonták vászonnal, hogy megvédjék a benne lévő árut.
Workers spent the afternoon canvasing the temporary shelter.
Learner examples
They canvas the boat to keep the water out.
Vászonnal borítják be a csónakot, hogy ne menjen bele a víz.
Workers canvas the roof with strong cloth.
A munkások erős vászonnal borítják be a tetőt.
He canvased the frame to make a simple cover.
Common mistake:
This rare verb form can be confused with the much more common verb "canvass" (with two "s"), which means to ask people for votes, opinions, or orders. In modern English, "to canvas" in this sense is uncommon and mostly technical.
Meaning
Cover something with canvas cloth
Collocations
canvas the boat
|canvas the roof
Synonyms
cover (A very general verb; "canvas" as a verb specifically means covering with canvas cloth.)
Antonyms
strip (To remove coverings from something, the opposite of adding canvas to it.)
Themes
materials
|crafts
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To put canvas cloth over or around something, for example a boat or a piece of equipment.
To cover, line, or furnish something with canvas cloth, especially in technical or craft contexts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
canvas
IPA
GB/kˈænvəs/
US/kˈænvəs/
Syllables & stress
can - vas (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (can)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: canvas
- Plural: canvas, canvases
Verb
- Base: canvas
- 3rd Person Singular: canvases
- Present Participle: canvasing
- Past: canvased
Word family
Forms
canvases
noun
canvasing
verb
canvased
verb
Expressions
a blank canvas
1/ə blˈæŋk kˈænvəs/
idiom
Person or thing with no marks yet
A person, thing, or situation that has nothing decided or formed yet, so it can become many different things.
Examples
- The new project is a blank canvas for the team to explore fresh ideas.
- Moving to another country gave her a blank canvas to reinvent her life.
hit the canvas
1/hˈɪt ðə kˈænvəs/
idiom
Boxer falls to ring floor
For a boxer or fighter to fall down onto the floor of the ring during a fight.
Examples
- The champion finally hit the canvas after a powerful uppercut.
- He hit the canvas twice in the first round but still won on points.
on the canvas
1/ˈɔn ðə kˈænvəs/
idiom
Lying knocked down in the ring
Lying on the floor of a boxing ring after being hit and knocked down.
Examples
- The referee began to count while the fighter lay on the canvas.
- He was on the canvas for several seconds but managed to get back up.
paint on a broad canvas
1/pˈeɪnt ˈɔn ə bɹˈɔd kˈænvəs/
idiom
literary
Deal with subject in broad outline
To talk about or show a subject in a very big, general way, covering many things but not going into small details.
Examples
- The series paints on a broad canvas, covering fifty years of political change.
- In this book the author prefers to paint on a broad canvas rather than focus on one character.
stretch a canvas
1/stɹˈɛt͡ʃ ə kˈænvəs/
fixed phrase
technical
Prepare canvas by stretching on frame
To pull canvas cloth tight over a wooden frame and fix it, so an artist can paint on it.
Examples
- Before he starts a new series, he spends a day stretching canvases in the studio.
- She learned how to stretch a canvas as part of her art class.