CANONICAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does canonical mean? 

• CANONICAL (adjective)
  The adjective CANONICAL has 4 senses:

1. appearing in a biblical canon

2. of or relating to or required by canon law

3. reduced to the simplest and most significant form possible without loss of generality

4. conforming to orthodox or recognized rules

  Familiarity information: CANONICAL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CANONICAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Appearing in a biblical canon

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

canonic; canonical

Context example:

a canonical book of the Christian New Testament

Pertainym:

canon (a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field of art or philosophy)

Derivation:

canon (a collection of books accepted as holy scripture especially the books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church as genuine and inspired)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to or required by canon law

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

canonic; canonical

Pertainym:

canon law (the body of codified laws governing the affairs of a Christian church)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Reduced to the simplest and most significant form possible without loss of generality

Synonyms:

basic; canonic; canonical

Context example:

a canonical syllable pattern

Similar:

standard (established or well-known or widely recognized as a model of authority or excellence)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Conforming to orthodox or recognized rules

Synonyms:

canonic; canonical; sanctioned

Context example:

the drinking of cocktails was as canonical a rite as the mixing

Similar:

orthodox (adhering to what is commonly accepted)

 Context examples 

The Nucleosomal Binding Domain anchors HMG-14 and HMG-17, two canonical HMG proteins, to nucleosomes.

(Nucleosome Binding Domain, NCI Thesaurus)

The amount and unit of study agent transferred in standard or canonical units.

(Performed Study Agent Transfer Quantity, NCI Thesaurus)

Canonical HMG proteins are subdivided into 3 superfamilies with characteristic functional sequence motifs: HMGB (formerly HMG-1/-2), HMGN (formerly HMG-14/-17), and HMGA (formerly HMG-I/Y/C).

(HMG Family Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes frizzled-4 protein, is involved in G protein-coupled receptor signal transduction and the beta-catenin canonical signaling pathway.

(FZD4 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

Also, although its alpha-helical central domain conforms to the canonical keratin structure, KRT19 uniquely lacks a C-terminal non-helical extension.

(Cytokeratin 19, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes frizzled-3 protein, plays a role in signal transduction processes in the beta-catenin canonical signaling pathway.

(FZD3 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

A potent, specific inhibitor of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in cancer stem cells with potential antineoplastic activity.

(CBP/beta-catenin Antagonist PRI-724, NCI Thesaurus)