verb (used with object)
- to solicit votes, subscriptions, opinions, or the like from.
- to examine carefully; investigate by inquiry; discuss; debate.
verb (used without object)
- to solicit votes, opinions, or the like.
noun
- a soliciting of votes, orders, or the like.
- a campaign for election to government office.
- close inspection; scrutiny.
verb
- to solicit votes, orders, advertising, etc, from
- to determine the feelings and opinions of (voters before an election, etc), esp by conducting a survey
- to investigate (something) thoroughly, esp by discussion or debate
- mainly US to inspect (votes) officially to determine their validity
noun
- a solicitation of opinions, votes, sales orders, etc
- close inspection; scrutiny
c.1500, from alternative spelling of canvas (n.) and probably meaning, originally, “to toss or sift in a canvas sheet,” hence “to shake out, examine carefully” (1520s); “to solicit votes” (1550s). The spelling with a double -s- dates from 16c. Cf. Old French canabasser “to examine carefully,” literally “to sift through canvas.” Related: Canvassed; canvassing. As a noun related to this, attested from c.1600.