Meaning & use
canopy
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Meanings
nouncountable
A covering that hangs or stretches above something, such as a bed, a shop entrance, or a person.
Grammar: Countable: a canopy, two canopies. Often used with 'under': under a canopy.
Patterns
- under a canopy
- a canopy over something
We sat under a canopy of vines to escape the sun.
The hotel entrance has a large glass canopy.
The princess slept in a bed with a silk canopy.
nouncountablebiology
The upper layer of branches and leaves formed by trees in a forest.
Grammar: Usually singular in this sense: the forest canopy.
Patterns
- forest canopy
- canopy of trees
Monkeys swung through the dense canopy of the rainforest.
The canopy blocks much of the sunlight from reaching the forest floor.
Scientists study the canopy to understand biodiversity.
nouncountabletechnical
The fabric part of a parachute that opens and fills with air.
Grammar: Often used in the singular when referring to the parachute as a whole.
Patterns
- parachute canopy
- deploy the canopy
The skydiver checked the canopy before jumping.
His canopy failed to open, so he used the reserve parachute.
The canopy billowed above him as he descended.
nouncountabletechnical
The transparent cover over the cockpit of an aircraft.
Grammar: Usually singular: the cockpit canopy.
Patterns
- cockpit canopy
- under the canopy
The pilot slid back the canopy to get some fresh air.
Bird strikes can crack the canopy of a fighter jet.
The canopy reflected the sunlight as the plane taxied.
Word forms
| plural | canopies |
|---|
Common combinations
- forest canopy
- The forest canopy is home to countless species of birds and insects.
- under a canopy
- The wedding guests gathered under a white canopy.
- canopy bed
- The antique canopy bed had carved wooden posts.
- canopy of leaves
- A canopy of leaves shaded the garden path.
- parachute canopy
- He packed the parachute canopy carefully before the jump.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- canopied adjective
- Covered with a canopy: a canopied walkway.
Commonly confused: canopy or canapé?
canopy vs canapé
A canapé is a small piece of bread or cracker with a topping, served as an appetizer. Canopy is a covering.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'canopy' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Only option 0 refers to the upper branches of trees. The others confuse 'canopy' with 'canapé' or misuse it as clothing or food.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “canopy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.