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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
sail noun 1 a sheet of canvas, or similar structure, spread to catch the wind as a means of propelling a ship. 2 a framework of slats which drive a windmill by catching the wind. 3 sails collectively. 4 a trip in a boat or ship with or without sails. 5 a voyage of a specified distance travelled by boat or ship. 6 (usually sail, especially after a number) naut a ship with sails thirty sail. verb (sailed, sailing) 1 tr & intr to travel by boat or ship sail the Pacific. 2 to control (a boat or ship) He sailed his ship around the world. 3 intrans to depart by boat or ship We sail at two-thirty. 4 to cause (a toy boat, etc) to sail. sailable adj navigable. sailed adj having sails. sailless adj. full sail with all sails raised and filled with the wind. make sail 1 to raise more sail. 2 to set off on a voyage. put on sail to set more sails in order to travel more quickly. sail close to or near the wind 1 naut to keep the boat's bow as close as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing so that the sails catch as much wind as is safely possible. 2 to come dangerously close to overstepping a limit, eg of good taste or decency. set sail 1 to begin a journey by boat or ship. 2 to spread the sails. shorten sail to reduce its open extent. strike sail to lower a sail or sails. under sail 1 having the sails raised and spread. 2 propelled by sails.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon segel.
sail through something colloq to succeed in it effortlessly She sailed through all her exams. |
sail noun 1 a sheet of canvas, or similar structure, spread to catch the wind as a means of propelling a ship. 2 a framework of slats which drive a windmill by catching the wind. 3 sails collectively. 4 a trip in a boat or ship with or without sails. 5 a voyage of a specified distance travelled by boat or ship. 6 (usually sail, especially after a number) naut a ship with sails thirty sail. verb (sailed, sailing) 1 tr & intr to travel by boat or ship sail the Pacific. 2 to control (a boat or ship) He sailed his ship around the world. 3 intrans to depart by boat or ship We sail at two-thirty. 4 to cause (a toy boat, etc) to sail. sailable adj navigable. sailed adj having sails. sailless adj. full sail with all sails raised and filled with the wind. make sail 1 to raise more sail. 2 to set off on a voyage. put on sail to set more sails in order to travel more quickly. sail close to or near the wind 1 naut to keep the boat's bow as close as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing so that the sails catch as much wind as is safely possible. 2 to come dangerously close to overstepping a limit, eg of good taste or decency. set sail 1 to begin a journey by boat or ship. 2 to spread the sails. shorten sail to reduce its open extent. strike sail to lower a sail or sails. under sail 1 having the sails raised and spread. 2 propelled by sails.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon segel.
sail through something colloq to succeed in it effortlessly She sailed through all her exams. |
sail noun 1 a sheet of canvas, or similar structure, spread to catch the wind as a means of propelling a ship. 2 a framework of slats which drive a windmill by catching the wind. 3 sails collectively. 4 a trip in a boat or ship with or without sails. 5 a voyage of a specified distance travelled by boat or ship. 6 (usually sail, especially after a number) naut a ship with sails thirty sail. verb (sailed, sailing) 1 tr & intr to travel by boat or ship sail the Pacific. 2 to control (a boat or ship) He sailed his ship around the world. 3 intrans to depart by boat or ship We sail at two-thirty. 4 to cause (a toy boat, etc) to sail. sailable adj navigable. sailed adj having sails. sailless adj. full sail with all sails raised and filled with the wind. make sail 1 to raise more sail. 2 to set off on a voyage. put on sail to set more sails in order to travel more quickly. sail close to or near the wind 1 naut to keep the boat's bow as close as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing so that the sails catch as much wind as is safely possible. 2 to come dangerously close to overstepping a limit, eg of good taste or decency. set sail 1 to begin a journey by boat or ship. 2 to spread the sails. shorten sail to reduce its open extent. strike sail to lower a sail or sails. under sail 1 having the sails raised and spread. 2 propelled by sails.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon segel.
sail through something colloq to succeed in it effortlessly She sailed through all her exams. |
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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