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| sail [ sayl ] |
noun (plural sails) |
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| Definition: |
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1. fabric catching wind on boat: a large piece of strong fabric, usually triangular or rectangular in shape, fixed by rigging, masts, and booms to catch the wind and propel a vessel forward
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2. journey in vessel: a trip in a boat or ship, especially a sailing vessel
  a pleasant sail across the bay
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3. sails of vessel: the sails of a boat or ship considered collectively
a ship under full sail
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4. sailing ships collectively: ships and boats with sails considered collectively or as a means of transport
Steam gives way to sail.
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5. thing or part resembling sail: something that resembles a sail of a boat or ship in form, function, or position
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6. blade of windmill: a long flat structure on the outside of a windmill that is designed to be turned by the wind in order to drive machinery
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7. part of submarine: the conning tower of a submarine
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8. (plural sail) vessel with sails: a boat or ship with sails
(
archaic
)
a fleet of 200 sail
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verb (past and past participle sailed, present participle sail·ing, 3rd person present singular sails) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb go by vessel on water: to be transported in a boat or ship across a stretch of water
We sailed to Shanghai on a large cruise ship.
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2. transitive and intransitive verb move on water: to move across the surface of water, or across a particular stretch of water, driven by wind or engine power
pirate ships that sailed the high seas
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3. transitive verb drive boat or ship: to control the movement of a boat or ship, especially one with sails
She sailed the boat into the harbor.
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4. intransitive verb begin sea journey: to depart in a boat or ship, or to leave a harbor, mooring, or anchorage
The ferry sails at noon.
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5. intransitive verb move smoothly: to move smoothly or swiftly and usually in a graceful way
The ball sailed over the fence.
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| [ Old English segl< Germanic] |
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| sail·a·ble adjective |
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set sail to depart in a boat or ship, or to leave a harbor, mooring, or anchorage
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under sail with sails hoisted, and not propelled by an engine
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| Spelling Note |
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sail or sale? Do not confuse the spelling of sail and sale, which sound similar. A sail is something that catches the wind, as in the sails of a boat, the sails of a windmill. Sail is also used as a verb, meaning "be transported by a boat or ship" or "move smoothly and swiftly," as in sailing down the river, sailing through the air. The word sale is only used as a noun, referring to the selling of goods or services, as in houses for sale, a sale of secondhand books, the sales manager of the company.
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