If you canvass public opinion, you find out how people feel about a particular subject. Members of Parliament are spending the weekend canvassing opinion in their constituencies
(I) The sections at either end of the boat beyond the seating - (bow canvass and stern canvass), so called because originally the coverings for these sections was made of canvass
If you canvass for a particular person or political party, you go around an area trying to persuade people to vote for that person or party. I'm canvassing for the Conservative Party + canvasser canvassers can·vass·er a Conservative canvasser
To search thoroughly; to engage in solicitation by traversing a district; as, to canvass for subscriptions or for votes; to canvass for a book, a publisher, or in behalf of a charity; commonly followed by for
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning; "analyze a sonnet by Shakespeare"; "analyze the evidence in a criminal trial"; "analyze your real motives"
To sift; to strain; to examine thoroughly; to scrutinize; as, to canvass the votes cast at an election; to canvass a district with reference to its probable vote