Translate canon | into German | into Italian Definition of canon
noun
1a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged:the appointment violated the canons of fair play and equal opportunity a church decree or law:a set of ecclesiastical canons
2a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine:the formation of the biblical canon the works of a particular author or artist that are recognized as genuine:the Shakespeare canon the list of works considered to be permanently established as being of the highest quality:Hopkins was firmly established in the canon of English poetry
3 (also canon of the Mass) (in the Roman Catholic Church) the part of the Mass containing the words of consecration.
4 Music a piece in which the same melody is begun in different parts successively, so that the imitations overlap.
