sail
[ seyl ]
/ seɪl /
noun
an area of canvas or other fabric extended to the wind in such a way as to transmit the force of the wind to an assemblage of spars and rigging mounted firmly on a hull, raft, iceboat, etc., so as to drive it along.
some similar piece or apparatus, as the part of an arm that catches the wind on a windmill.
a voyage or excursion, especially in a sailing vessel: They went for a sail around the island.
a sailing vessel or ship.
sailing vessels collectively: The fleet numbered 30 sail.
sails for a vessel or vessels collectively.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy.
the constellation Vela.
verb (used without object)
to move along or travel over water: steamships sailing to Lisbon.
to manage a sailboat, especially for sport.
to begin a journey by water: We are sailing at dawn.
to move along in a manner suggestive of a sailing vessel: caravans sailing along.
to move along in a stately, effortless way: to sail into a room.
verb (used with object)
to sail upon, over, or through: to sail the seven seas.
to navigate (a vessel).
Verb Phrases
sail in/into, Informal.
- to go vigorously into action; begin to act; attack.
- to attack verbally: He would sail into his staff when work was going badly.
Idioms for sail
- to set the sail or sails of a boat or increase the amount of sail already set.
- to set out on a voyage: Make sail for the Leeward Islands.
in sail,
with the sails set.
make sail, Nautical.
set sail,
to start a sea voyage: We set sail at midnight for Nantucket.
trim one's sails, Informal.
to cut expenses; economize: We're going to have to trim our sails if we stay in business.
under sail,
with sails set; in motion; sailing: It was good to be under sail in the brisk wind and under the warm sun.
Origin of sail
before 900; (noun) Middle English
sail(e),
seille, Old English
segl; cognate with German
Segel, Old Norse
segl; (v.) Middle English
seillen, saylen, Old English
siglan, seglian; cognate with Dutch
zeilen, Old Norse
sigla
OTHER WORDS FROM sail
sail·a·ble, adjective sail·less, adjective un·sail·a·ble, adjective un·sailed, adjectiveWords nearby sail
Example sentences from the Web for sail
They get $8 million to dredge the channel for pleasure boats to sail to Catalina Island.
The turbulent waters caused one of his oars to crack, which—without a motor or a sail—can be severely detrimental to his voyage.
Anytime we have to put up the sail or tack or do any maneuvering, it requires all hands on deck.
At best, they would be processed and free to return home to sail again.
Hundreds of Migrants are Reported Drowned by Traffickers Near Malta |Barbie Latza Nadeau |September 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He wanted to sail around the Sea of Cortez; he had this weird little boat that in no way was ready nor was he a sailor.
The Drunken Downfall of Evangelical America's Favorite Painter |Zac Bissonnette |June 8, 2014 |DAILY BEASTAs we come north the mountains grow higher and come closer to the water we sail upon, and there is more snow on their summits.
In to the Yukon |William Seymour EdwardsHe had made up his mind to sail the brig in and risk the hazards of shoal water.
Blackbeard: Buccaneer |Ralph D. PaineCaptain Langdon being of the same opinion, the signal was thrown out to make all sail to close the enemy.
How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves |W.H.G. KingstonThe wind whistled, too, though but for a moment, and then it seemed to sail upward into the dark vault of the heavens.
The Headsman |James Fenimore CooperHe could sail directly with the wind and yet be assured of not going far out of his way.
The Secret Cache |E. C. [Ethel Claire] Brill
British Dictionary definitions for sail
sail
/ (seɪl) /
noun
an area of fabric, usually Terylene or nylon (formerly canvas), with fittings for holding it in any suitable position to catch the wind, used for propelling certain kinds of vessels, esp over water
a voyage on such a vessel
a sail down the river
a vessel with sails or such vessels collectively
to travel by sail; we raised seven sail in the northeast
a ship's sails collectively
something resembling a sail in shape, position, or function, such as the part of a windmill that is turned by the wind or the part of a Portuguese man-of-war that projects above the water
the conning tower of a submarine
in sail
having the sail set
make sail
- to run up the sail or to run up more sail
- to begin a voyage
set sail
- to embark on a voyage by ship
- to hoist sail
under sail
- with sail hoisted
- under way
verb (mainly intr)
to travel in a boat or ship
we sailed to Le Havre
to begin a voyage; set sail
we sail at 5 o'clock
(of a vessel) to move over the water
the liner is sailing to the Caribbean
(tr)
to manoeuvre or navigate a vessel
he sailed the schooner up the channel
(tr)
to sail over
she sailed the Atlantic single-handed
(often foll by over, through, etc)
to move fast or effortlessly
we sailed through customs; the ball sailed over the fence
to move along smoothly; glide
(often foll by in or into) informal
- to begin (something) with vigour
- to make an attack (on) violently with words or physical force
Derived forms of sail
sailable, adjective sailless, adjectiveWord Origin for sail
Old English
segl; related to Old Frisian
seil, Old Norse
segl, German
Segel
Idioms and Phrases with sail
sail
In addition to the idioms beginning with sail
- sail close to the wind
- sail into
- sail through
- sail under false colors
also see:
- (sail under) false colors
- plain sailing
- set sail
- smooth sailing
- take the wind out of one's sails
- trim one's sails