[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/canal/)

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# canal

noun (a canal, canals)

«canal» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A long, narrow waterway dug by people so boats can travel or water can flow, for example across a country. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/#m1)
2. A narrow tube in the body, such as the ear canal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/#m2)

### In the lessons

In geography and history, canals carried goods by boat before railways; famous ones are the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal. In the UK many towns have old canals with narrowboats and towpaths. In science «ear canal» is the tube into your ear. Safety: canal water is deep and cold with steep sides, so do not play near the edge. Phrases: «canal boat», «along the canal», «ear canal».

### Examples

- We walked along the canal towpath. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/#x1)
- A long narrow boat went slowly down the canal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/#x2)
- The Panama Canal joins two oceans. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/#x3)
- Canals were dug by hand long ago. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/#x4)
- Never swim in a canal; the water is cold and deep. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/#x5)
- Don't push cotton buds into your ear canal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/#x6)
- The canal had locks to lift boats up the hill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/#x7)
- Nothing was to be seen but an open meadow, surrounded by a few bushes, through which ran a broad canal or stream. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/#x8)

### Note

Stress on the second part: «ca-NAL». A canal is made by people; a river is natural. Countable: canals.

## In Jewish tradition

In Exodus it means the channels of the Nile that carried water in Egypt. Aaron stretched his rod over them for the plague of frogs.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis noted that the Nile was an Egyptian god. The plagues struck at the river and its waters to show the power of the God of Israel.

### Examples

- And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Say unto Aaron: Stretch forth thy hand with thy rod over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.' (Torah EXO.8.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/canal/#x1)

### Note

Stress on the second part: «ca-NAL». A canal is made by people; a river is natural. Countable: canals.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «canal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/canal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«canal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/canal.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «canal» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/canal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«canal» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/canal.html) on Mova free.