canon

US /ˈkæn.ən/
UK /ˈkæn.ən/
"canon" picture
1.

a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged

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The decision was made according to the established canon of the organization.
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He adheres strictly to the canons of good taste.
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principlerulelawcriterionstandard
2.

a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine

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The biblical canon includes the Old and New Testaments.
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Scholars debate the inclusion of certain texts in the literary canon.
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corpuscollectionbody of worksscripturestexts
3.

the works of a writer that are accepted as authentic

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Shakespeare's canon includes 37 plays.
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Many literary critics study the author's entire canon.
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corpusoeuvreworkswritingsoutput
4.

a piece of music in which a melody is imitated by one or more parts at different intervals

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Pachelbel's Canon in D is a very famous classical piece.
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The choir sang a beautiful canon.
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roundfuguepolyphony
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canonicalcanonize