canvass

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To examine carefully or discuss thoroughly; scrutinize: "The evidence had been repeatedly canvassed in American courts” ( Anthony Lewis).
2. v. To go through (a region) or go to (persons) to solicit votes or orders.
3. v. To conduct a survey of (public opinion); poll.
4. v. To make a thorough examination or conduct a detailed discussion.
5. v. To solicit voters, orders, or opinions.
6. n. An examination or discussion.
7. n. A solicitation of votes or orders.
8. n. A survey of public opinion.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To examine; scrutinize.
2. Specifically.
3. To sift or examine by way of discussion; discuss; debate.
4. To sift or investigate by inquiry; examine as to opinions, desires, or intentions; apply to or address for the purpose of influencing action, or of ascertaining a probable result: as, to canvass the people of a city with reference to an approaching election, for the promotion of a public undertaking, or the like.
5. To traverse for the purpose of inquiry or solicitation; apply to or address the inhabitants of with reference to prospective action: as, to canvass a district for votes, for subscriptions, etc.
6. To shake; take to task. See canvas, transitive verb, 2.
7. To solicit or go about soliciting votes, interest, orders, subscriptions, or the like: followed by for: as, to canvass for an office or preferment; to canvass for a friend; to canvass for a mercantile firm.
8. n. Examination; close inspection; scrutiny: as, a canvass of votes. Specifically
9. n. An examination or scrutiny of a body of men, in order to ascertain their opinions or their intentions, especially whether they will vote for or against a given measure or candidate; an estimate of the number of votes cast or to be cast for or against a candidate or bill: as, a canvass of the legislature disclosed a majority of six in favor of the measure.
10. n. A seeking; solicitation; specifically, systematic solicitation for the votes and support of a district or of individuals by a candidate for office or by his friends.
11. n. Discussion; debate.

Wiktionary

1. n. A solicitation of voters or public opinion.
2. v. To solicit voters or opinions.
3. v. To conduct a survey.
4. v. To campaign.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To sift; to strain; to examine thoroughly; to scrutinize.
2. v. To examine by discussion; to debate.
3. v. To go through, with personal solicitation or public addresses.
4. v. To search thoroughly; to engage in solicitation by traversing a district; ; -- commonly followed by for.
5. n. Close inspection; careful review for verification.
6. n. Examination in the way of discussion or debate.
7. n. Search; exploration; solicitation; systematic effort to obtain votes, subscribers, etc.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
2. n. the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account
3. v. get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions
4. n. a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
5. n. an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people
6. v. consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
7. v. solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign
8. n. a tent made of canvas fabric
9. n. an oil painting on canvas fabric
10. n. the mat that forms the floor of the ring in which boxers or professional wrestlers compete