Hi
Would you tell me the meaning of ''canvas'' in this conversation? (I've looked up the Internet but I didn't find any definition for ''canvas'' as a verb)

( The conversation is between two students discussing how to organize their project that involves studying the mystery of human relationships)
A: I'll pick friendship and look at what makes the type of relationship work and ......
B: Why don't you go through the stages in a friendship? But I would keep it simple- just select six
A: Yes, it's sort of area that you can canvas people's opinion on.

Question

Hi 
Would you tell me the meaning of ''canvas'' in this conversation? (I've looked up the Internet but I didn't find any definition for ''canvas'' as a verb)

(  The conversation is between two students discussing how to organize their project that involves studying the mystery of human relationships) 
A: I'll pick friendship and look at what makes the type of relationship work and ......
B: Why don't you go through the stages in a friendship? But I would keep it simple- just select six
A: Yes, it's sort of area that you can canvas people's opinion on.

Answer

It's a misspelling. It should be "canvass" (with two s-es).

meaning: question (someone) in order to ascertain their opinion: 
examples: they promised to canvass all member clubs for their views."

New Oxford American Dictionary
meaning 1 
1 [with object] solicit votes from (electors in a constituency): in each ward, two workers canvassed some 2,000 voters | [no object] : she canvassed for votes.
• try to obtain; request: they're canvassing support among shareholders.
• question (someone) in order to ascertain their opinion: they promised to canvass all member clubs for their views.

Answer

Canvass, means to conduct a survey, or to research something. As in when the police "canvass the neighborhood" for information pertaining to an investigation.

Answer

In this context the term canvas means to search or investigate. Police often use the term when searching an area for a person or object. "I'm going to canvas the neighborhood for the missing car"