canon (noun)
1: a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field or art or philosophy; "the neoclassical canon"; "canons of polite society"
2: a priest who is a member of a cathedral chapter
3: a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall [syn: canyon]
4: a contrapuntal piece of music in which a melody in one part is imitated exactly in other parts
5: a complete list of saints that have been recognized by the Roman Catholic Church
6: a collection of books accepted as holy scripture especially the books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church as genuine and inspired