Canoe Meaning
/kəˈnuː/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA small long and narrow boat, propelled by one or more people (depending on the size of canoe), using single-bladed paddles. The paddlers face in the direction of travel, in either a seated position, or kneeling on the bottom of the boat. Canoes are open on top, and pointed at both ends.
nounAn oversize, usually older, luxury car.
Sentence Examples
An accomplishment cannot be looked upon as yours unless you have paddled your own canoe.
We went down a river by canoe.
A big canoe was cutting through the water.
CEFR Practice Quiz
We paddled the ____ across the calm lake to reach the island.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We took a small ____ out onto the calm lake to watch the sunset tonight.
Word Origin & History
Adopted in 16th century from Spanish canoa, from Taíno *kanowa (“dugout canoe”) (compare Lokono kanoa (“canoe”), Wayuu anuwa, anua (“boat, canoe”)), from Proto-Arawak *kanawa.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The canoe is of pure black oak, and is in excellent preservation."
— 1886 January 26, The Antiquary: A Magazine Devoted to the Study of the Past, volume XIII, number 73, page 135:
"He and Gerald usually challenged the rollers in a sponson canoe when Gerald was there for the weekend; […]"
— 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
"His program also included a survey of the new course of the lower Tarim river in Eastern Turkistan and its terminal lake Lop-nor. This part of the expedition started in April 1934, from Könche or Yü-li-hsien, a small village about 45 km. SSE of Korla, whence Dr. Hedin followed the river Könche-darya and its continuation Qum-darya, travelling in native canoes."
— 1939, Folke Bergman, “Ancient Remains Along "The Small River"”, in Archaeological Researches in Sinkiang Especially the Lop-Nor Region, number 7, Stockholm: Bokförlags Aktiebolaget Thule, →OCLC, page 51:
"Car drivers were helicoptered to safety from nearby roads. There were photographs of people canoeing down streets."
— 2023 November 29, Paul Clifton, “West is best in the Highlands”, in RAIL, number 997, page 40:
"The email said, “Do you know how happy I’ll be when your cunt ass face is canoed by an assault rifle? Tick tock bitch. Watch your back.” Canoeing is a term for when people mutilate someone’s head."
— 2026 March 26, Joseph Cox, “Apple Gives FBI a User’s Real Name Hidden Behind ’Hide My Email’ Feature”, in 404 Media:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
We paddled the ____ across the calm lake to reach the island.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We took a small ____ out onto the calm lake to watch the sunset tonight.