- [intransitive, transitive] to ask people to support a particular person, political party, etc., either by going around an area and talking to people or by phoning them 游说;拉选票
- canvass (for something) He spent the whole month canvassing for votes.他花了整整一个月四处游说拉选票。
- canvass somebody (for something) Party workers are busy canvassing local residents.党务工作者正忙于游说当地居民。
Topics Politicsc2 - [transitive] to ask people about something in order to find out what they think about it调查(民意);征求(意见)
- canvass something He has been canvassing opinion on the issue.他一直在征求对这个问题的意见。
- canvass somebody (for something) People are being canvassed for their views on the proposed new road.正在就计划修建的新道路征求人们的意见。
- [transitive] canvass support to try and get support from a group of people努力争取支持 synonym drum up
- [transitive] canvass something to discuss an idea carefully and completely详细(或彻底)讨论
- The proposal is currently being canvassed.目前人们正在详细讨论这个提案。
Word Originearly 16th cent. (‘toss in a canvas sheet’ (in the sense as a sport or punishment)): from canvas. Later extended senses include ‘criticize, discuss’ (mid 16th cent.) and ‘propose for discussion’; hence ‘seek support for’.