Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "canalization" shine aikin ginawa ko sarrafa tashoshi na wucin gadi, magudanar ruwa, ko hanyoyin ruwa don turawa ko daidaita kwararar ruwa, ruwa, ko iskar gas. Kalmar kuma na iya komawa ga tsarin jagora ko jagorantar wani abu, kamar ra'ayoyi, motsin rai, ko ɗabi'a, zuwa takamaiman hanya ko alkibla. A cikin ilmin halitta, canalization yana nufin yanayin halitta don samar da daidaiton dabi'a duk da bambancin yanayin muhalli ko kayan shafa na kwayoyin halitta.