seal
1
[ seel ]
/ sil /
noun
verb (used with object)
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
1
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, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH seal
ceiling sealingWords nearby seal
Definition for seal (2 of 4)
seal
2
[ seel ]
/ sil /
noun, plural seals, (especially collectively for 1) seal.
verb (used without object)
to hunt, kill, or capture seals.
Origin of seal
2
before 900; Middle English
sele, Old English
seolh; cognate with Old Norse
selr
OTHER WORDS FROM seal
seal·like, adjectiveDefinition for seal (3 of 4)
Definition for seal (4 of 4)
SEAL
[ seel ]
/ sil /
noun
a member of the U.S. Navy’s special operations forces.
Origin of SEAL
se(a) a(ir) l(and) (team)
Example sentences from the Web for seal
British Dictionary definitions for seal (1 of 2)
seal
1
/ (siːl) /
noun
verb (tr)
Derived forms of seal
sealable, adjectiveWord Origin for seal
C13
seel, from Old French, from Latin
sigillum little figure, from
signum a sign
British Dictionary definitions for seal (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, adjectiveWord Origin for seal
Old English
seolh; related to Old Norse
selr, Old High German
selah, Old Irish
selige tortoise
Scientific definitions for seal
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
seal