seal

[ seel ]

/ sil /

noun

an embossed emblem, figure, symbol, word, letter, etc., used as attestation or evidence of authenticity.

a stamp, medallion, ring, etc., engraved with such a device, for impressing paper, wax, lead, or the like: The king took the seal from his finger and applied it to the document.

the impression so obtained: It was unmistakably the royal seal on the document.

a mark or symbol attached to a legal document and imparting a formal character to it, originally wax with an impression.

a piece of wax or similar adhesive substance so attached to an envelope, folded document, etc., that it must be broken when the object is opened, insuring that the contents have not been tampered with or altered.

anything that tightly or completely closes or secures a thing, as closures or fastenings for doors and railroad cars, adhesive stamps and tapes used to secure the flap of an envelope, etc.

something that keeps a thing secret: Her vow was the seal that kept her silent.

a decorative stamp, especially as given to contributors to a charitable fund: a Christmas seal.

a mark, sign, symbol, or the like, serving as visible evidence of something.

anything that serves as assurance, confirmation, or bond: She gave the plan her seal of approval.

Plumbing.

a small amount of water held by a trap to exclude foul gases from a sewer or the like.
the depth of the part of the water that actually excludes the gases.

the seals, British. the tokens or signs of public office.

verb (used with object)

to affix a seal to in authorization, testimony, etc.

to assure, confirm, or bind with or as if with a seal: They sealed the bargain with a handshake.

to impress a seal upon as evidence of legal or standard exactness, measure, quality, etc.

to close by any form of fastening that must be broken before access can be gained.

to fasten or close tightly by or as if by a seal: She was sealing envelopes. My lips are sealed.

to decide irrevocably: to seal someone's fate.

to grant under one's seal or authority, as a pardon.

Mormon Church. to make (a marriage or adoption) forever binding; solemnize.

Electricity. to bring (a plug and jack or socket) into locked or fully aligned position.

Verb Phrases

seal off,

to close hermetically: to seal off a jar.
to block (an entrance, area, etc.) completely so as to prevent escape or entrance: The police sealed off the area after the bomb threat was received.

Idioms for seal

set one's seal to, to give one's approval to; authorize; endorse: Both families have set their seal to the marriage.

Origin of seal

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English seel, seil(e), seale mark on a document, token < Old French seel (French sceau) < Late Latin *sigellum, Latin sigillum, diminutive of signum sign; replacing Middle English seil, Old English ( in)segel seal < Late Latin, as above; (v.) sealen, seilen < Old French seeler, seieler, derivative of seel

OTHER WORDS FROM seal

seal·a·ble, adjective re·seal·a·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH seal

ceiling sealing

Words nearby seal

seahenge, seajack, seakale beet, seakeeping, seakindly, seal, seal beach, seal brown, seal dog, seal of approval, seal off

British Dictionary definitions for seal off (1 of 2)

seal ¹

/ (siːl) /

noun

a device impressed on a piece of wax, moist clay, etc, fixed to a letter, document, etc, as a mark of authentication

a stamp, ring, etc, engraved with a device to form such an impression

a substance, esp wax, so placed over an envelope, document, etc, that it must be broken before the object can be opened or used

any substance or device used to close or fasten tightly

a material, such as putty or cement, that is used to close an opening to prevent the passage of air, water, etc

a small amount of water contained in the trap of a drain to prevent the passage of foul smells

an agent or device for keeping something hidden or secret

anything that gives a pledge or confirmation

a decorative stamp often sold in aid of charity

Also called: seal of confession RC Church the obligation never to reveal anything said by a penitent in confession

set one's seal on or set one's seal to

to mark with one's sign or seal
to endorse

verb (tr)

to affix a seal to, as proof of authenticity

to stamp with or as if with a seal

to approve or authorize

(sometimes foll by up) to close or secure with or as if with a seal to seal one's lips; seal up a letter

(foll by off) to enclose (a place) with a fence, wall, etc

to decide irrevocably

Mormon Church to make (a marriage or adoption) perpetually binding

to subject (the outside of meat, etc) to fierce heat so as to retain the juices during cooking

to close tightly so as to render airtight or watertight

to paint (a porous material) with a nonporous coating

Australian and NZ to consolidate (a road surface) with bitumen, tar, etc

Derived forms of seal

sealable, adjective

Word Origin for seal

C13 seel, from Old French, from Latin sigillum little figure, from signum a sign

British Dictionary definitions for seal off (2 of 2)

seal ²

/ (siːl) /

noun

any pinniped mammal of the families Otariidae (eared seals) and Phocidae (earless seals) that are aquatic but come on shore to breed See eared seal, earless seal Related adjectives: otarid, phocine

any earless seal (family Phocidae), esp the common or harbour seal or the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)

sealskin

verb

(intr) to hunt for seals

Derived forms of seal

seal-like, adjective

Word Origin for seal

Old English seolh; related to Old Norse selr, Old High German selah, Old Irish selige tortoise

Scientific definitions for seal off

seal

[ sēl ]

Any of various aquatic carnivorous mammals of the families Phocidae and Otariidae, having a sleek, torpedo-shaped body and limbs that are modified into paddlelike flippers. Seals live chiefly in the Northern Hemisphere and, like walruses, are pinnipeds.

Idioms and Phrases with seal off (1 of 2)

seal off

Also, seal up. Close tightly or barricade to prevent entry or exit. For example, We're sealing off the unused wing of the building, or The jar is tightly sealed up. Dating from the first half of the 1900s, this idiom uses seal in the sense of “close securely,” as one used to do with a seal of wax.

Idioms and Phrases with seal off (2 of 2)

seal

In addition to the idioms beginning with seal

seal of approval
seal off
seal one's fate

also see:

lips are sealed
set one's seal on
signed, sealed and delivered

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

seal