B2noun3K

Canal

UK /["/kəˈnæl/"]/US /["/kəˈnæl/"]/

Definition

a long straight passage dug in the ground and filled with water for boats and ships to travel along; a smaller passage used for carrying water to fields, crops, etc.

In simple words: A long, narrow waterway made for boats to travel.

Examples

  • the Panama/Suez Canal
  • an irrigation canal
  • The barge moved slowly along the canal.
  • In Amsterdam we had a boat ride on the canals.
  • They lived in a converted warehouse on the canal.
  • The Panama Canal was not opened until after the outbreak of the First World War.
  • The canal network put Birmingham at the centre of Britain's transport system in the 1780s.
  • It is important to keep the irrigation canals clear of vegetation.

Usage notes

Used in both formal and casual contexts. Generally appropriate when discussing geography, transport, or irrigation. Avoid using in casual conversations about unrelated topics.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'canal' as a 'can' that holds water for boats.

Collocations

  • drainage
  • irrigation
  • ship
  • build
  • construct
  • dig
  • barge
  • boat
  • bank
  • along a/​the canal
  • on a/​the canal

Synonyms

  • waterway
  • ditch
  • channel
  • moat

Antonyms

  • blockage
  • obstruction
  • dam
  • barrier

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'channel', which can mean a TV signal.
  • Mistaken for 'canyon', which is a deep valley.
  • Mispronounced as 'kanal'.