Canon (Noun)
Meaning 1
A rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field of art or philosophy; "the neoclassical canon"; "canons of polite society".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The Renaissance masters are considered part of the traditional canon of Western art.
- Her radical ideas challenged the social and cultural canons of her time.
- The canons of classical music have been carefully preserved and passed down through the centuries.
- In the 20th century, feminist critics sought to expand the literary canon to include more women writers.
- The artist's bold experiments pushed against the canons of traditional representational painting.
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Meaning 2
A ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made).
Examples
- The dry canon was a testament to the region's arid climate, with only a trickle of water flowing through its depths.
- As we hiked through the canon, the sheer walls of rock rose up on either side of us, a reminder of the river's ancient power.
- The canon's unique geology made it a popular destination for rock climbers and hikers.
- Despite the lack of rainfall, the canon was home to a surprising variety of plant and animal life.
- As the sun beat down on the canon, the air grew hotter and drier, making every step feel like a struggle.
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Meaning 3
A collection of books accepted as holy scripture especially the books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church as genuine and inspired.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Hypernyms
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Meaning 4
A complete list of saints that have been recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Hypernyms
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Meaning 5
A priest who is a member of a cathedral chapter.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The canon was responsible for leading the daily prayers in the cathedral.
- As a canon, he was entitled to a stall in the cathedral choir.
- The chapter of canons met regularly to discuss the management of the cathedral.
- The canon's role was to provide spiritual guidance to the cathedral community.
- The bishop appointed a new canon to the cathedral chapter to replace the one who had retired.
Meaning 6
A contrapuntal piece of music in which a melody in one part is imitated exactly in other parts.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.