can·vas / ˈkanvəs/ • n. a strong, coarse unbleached cloth made from hemp, flax, cotton, or a similar yarn, used to make items such as sails and tents and as a surface for oil painting: [as adj.] a canvas bag. ∎  a piece of such cloth prepared for use as the surface for an oil painting. ∎  an oil painting. ∎  a variety of canvas with an open weave, used as a basis for tapestry and embroidery. ∎  (the canvas) the floor of a boxing or wrestling ring, having a canvas covering. ∎  either of a racing boat's tapering ends, originally covered with canvas.• v. (-vased, -vas·ing) [tr.] (usu. be canvased) cover with canvas: the door had been canvased over.

Canvas ★★½ 2006 (PG-13)

Convincing performances help out a somewhat familiar plot about mental illness. Ten-year-old Chris (Gearhart) returns home after a stay with relatives. His mom, Mary (Harden), was hospitalized for schizophrenia and her sanity is still in question, despite the best efforts of hard-working hubby John (Pantoliano). Countless problems inundate their lives as Mary becomes more disruptive and an embarrassment Chris finds hard to bear. 101m/C DVD . William Morrissey, Marcia Gay Harden, Joe Pantoliano, Devon Gearhart, Marcus Johns, Sophia Bairley; D: Joseph Greco; W: Joseph Greco; C: Rob Sweeney; M: Joel Goodman.

Canvas

paintings collectively; sails collectively; tents collectively; also used figuratively to mean ‘a wide range, a large expanse.’

Example: canvas of fancy, 1822.

canvas strong hemp or flax cloth. XIV. ME. canevas — ONF. (and mod.) canevas, var. of OF. chanevaz :- Rom. *cannapāceum, f. *cannapum, for L. cannabis HEMP.