canon

B2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈkæn.ən/ See IPA manual

Homophones

cannon /ˈkæn.ən/

Freq #16498

Meanings

1

noun
A general rule or principle that is widely accepted in a field.

The trial must proceed according to the canons of law.
2

noun
The books or stories officially accepted as part of a fictional world.

A later book revealed the aliens came from Earth, but fans argue it is not canon.
3

noun
The group of works regarded as the most important in a subject.

These three novels are firmly part of the English literary canon.
4

noun
A piece of music in which voices sing the same tune but start at different times.

Pachelbel's Canon is often played at weddings.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms canons

Derived forms canonburycanonesscanonic canonicalcanonicitycanonisationcanonisecanonistcanonisticcanonization canonizecanonlike

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

canon law
the written rules governing the organization and conduct of a Christian church

Noun + noun

Etymology

* As an English, Scottish, and Irish surname, variant of Cannon. * As a French topographical surname, from placenames derived from canne (“reed, cane, tube”). * As a Chaldean/Chaldean Neo-Aramaic surname, variant of Kanon, Kanoun, from [script needed] (Kānūn), the Classical Syriac name of the ninth and tenth months of the Assyrian calendar, from ܟܢܘܢ ܒ.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Register & Style

External links

# canon

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkæn.ən/
**Frequency rank:** 16498

## Meanings
1. A general rule or principle that is widely accepted in a field.
2. The books or stories officially accepted as part of a fictional world.
3. The group of works regarded as the most important in a subject.
4. A piece of music in which voices sing the same tune but start at different times.

## Examples
- The trial must proceed according to the canons of law.
- A later book revealed the aliens came from Earth, but fans argue it is not canon.
- These three novels are firmly part of the English literary canon.
- Pachelbel's Canon is often played at weddings.

## Derived Forms
- canonbury
- canoness
- canonic
- canonical
- canonicity
- canonisation
- canonise
- canonist
- canonistic
- canonization
- canonize
- canonlike

## Etymology
* As an English, Scottish, and Irish surname, variant of Cannon. * As a French topographical surname, from placenames derived from canne (“reed, cane, tube”). * As a Chaldean/Chaldean Neo-Aramaic surname, variant of Kanon, Kanoun, from [script needed] (Kānūn), the Classical Syriac name of the ninth and tenth months of the Assyrian calendar, from ܟܢܘܢ ܒ.

## AI Etymology
Canon is * As an English, Scottish, and Irish surname, variant of Cannon.; As a French topographical surname, from placenames derived from canne (“reed, cane, tube”).; As a Chaldean/Chaldean Neo-Aramaic surname, variant of Kanon, Kanoun, from [script needed] (Kānūn), the Classical Syriac name of the ninth and tenth months of the Assyrian calendar, from ܟܢܘܢ ܒ.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Register & Style

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