I. kəˈnal noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin canalis pipe, channel, from canna reed — more at cane
1. obsolete : a pipe especially for conveying liquids
2.
a. : channel , watercourse ; especially : strait
b. obsolete : a long narrow ornamental pond
3.
a. : a tubular passage or channel either in bone (as the haversian canals) or formed by soft tissues (as the alimentary canal or inguinal canal) : duct
b. : a groove which prolongs the shell aperture and in which the siphon of certain snails rests
4. : an artificial waterway designed for navigation or for draining or irrigating land
the Panama canal
5. obsolete : a means of communication
6. : a groove or channel in an architectural member ; specifically : the recess or drip in the undersurface of a corona
7. : a narrow arm of the sea usually extending far inland and approximately uniform in width
Lynn canal
8.
[Italian canale channel, from Latin canalis ]
: any of various faint narrow markings on the planet Mars
II. transitive verb
( canalled or canaled ; canalled or canaled ; canalling or canaling ; canals )
1. : to construct a canal through or across : provide with canals
2. : canalize
they can canal the natural forces — Elizabeth Bowen
III. kəˈnäl noun
( plural cana·les -ä(ˌ)lās)
Etymology: Spanish, from Latin canalis
Southwest : waterspout , eaves trough