Standard Lemma guide

canalise

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈkæn.ə.laɪz/
  • /kəˈnæl.aɪz/
  • rhymes with -ænəlaɪz
  • rhymes with -ælaɪz

1

verb

Meaning 1

To convert (a river or other waterway) into a canal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To build a canal through.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To channel the flow of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

direct the flow of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • channel information towards a broad audience

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: channel, canalize

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: steer, maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre, direct, point, head, guide, channelize, channelise

5

verb

Meaning 5

provide (a city) with a canal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: canal, canalize

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: supply, provide, render, furnish

History

Etymology

From canal + -ise.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: kanalisere — to convert into a canal
  • German: kanalisieren — to convert into a canal
  • Indonesian: menganalkan — to convert into a canal
  • Norwegian Bokmål: kanalisere — to convert into a canal
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: kanalisere — to convert into a canal
  • Polish: kanalizować — to convert into a canal
  • Polish: skanalizować — to convert into a canal
  • Romanian: canaliza — to convert into a canal
  • Swedish: kanalisera — to convert into a canal
  • Hungarian: csatornáz — to build a canal through
  • Indonesian: membuat kanal — to build a canal through
  • Polish: kanalizować — to build a canal through
  • Polish: skanalizować — to build a canal through
  • Danish: kanalisere — to channel the flow of
  • German: kanalisieren — to channel the flow of
  • Hungarian: folyat — to channel the flow of
  • Hungarian: irányít — to channel the flow of
  • Hungarian: terel — to channel the flow of
  • Hungarian: vezet — to channel the flow of
  • Hungarian: összpontosít — to channel the flow of
  • Indonesian: menyalurkan — to channel the flow of
  • Irish: treoraigh — to channel the flow of
  • Norwegian Bokmål: kanalisere — to channel the flow of
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: kanalisere — to channel the flow of
  • Polish: ukierunkowywać — to channel the flow of
  • Polish: ukierunkować — to channel the flow of
  • Swedish: kanalisera — to channel the flow of