noun

• (painting)
• (figuratively) A basis for creative work.
  "The author takes rural midwestern life as a canvas for a series of tightly woven character studies"
• (computer graphics) A region on which graphics can be rendered.
• (nautical) Sails in general.
  "The double desire of being able to overtake a weaker flying enemy, or to escape when pursued by a stronger, has induced the owners to overmast their cruisers, and to spread too much canvass; and the great number of men, many of them not seamen, who being upon deck when a ship heels suddenly are huddled down to leeward, and increase by their weight the effect of the wind."

verb

• (transitive) To cover (an area or object) with canvas.