I. ˌkan ə lə̇ˈzāshən, -lˌīˈz- noun
( -s )
Etymology: French canalisation, from canaliser + -ation
1. : the act of canalizing:
a. : the construction or formation of canals
b. : the providing of a channel or an outlet
c. : the direction into a channel or groove
2.
a. : a system of canals or conduits conveying or distributing gas, electricity, water, or steam
b. : the conveyance or distribution especially of gas or water
3.
a. : surgical formation of holes or canals for drainage without tubes
b. : natural formation of new channels in tissue (as formation of new blood vessels through a blood clot)
c. : establishment by repeated passage of nerve impulses of new pathways in the central nervous system
II. noun
: the developmental buffering and homeostatic processes by which a particular kind of organism forms a relatively constant phenotype although individuals may have a variety of genotypes and environmental conditions may vary