sail

sail
1 verb
1 (intransitive always +adv/prep) to travel across an area of water in a boat or ship: the first Europeans to sail across the Atlantic | Three tall ships sailed past.
2 (I, T) to direct or control the movement of a boat or ship: The captain sailed his ship safely through the narrow passage. | My father taught me to sail when I was 14.
3 (I) to start a journey by boat or ship: We sail at dawn.
(+ for): They're sailing for Antigua next week.
4 (intransitive always +adv/prep) to move quickly and smoothly through the air: At that moment a ball came sailing over the fence and landed in my lap.
5 (intransitive always +adv/prep) to move forwards gracefully and confidently: Penelope sailed into the room, her dress billowing behind her.
6 sail close to the wind to do or say something that is nearly wrong, illegal, or dishonest: You're sailing a bit close to the wind with that remark.
—see also: sail/fly under false colours false (10) sail through phrasal verb (I, T) to succeed very easily in a test, examination etc 2 noun (C)
1 a large piece of strong cloth fixed onto a boat, so that the wind will push the boat along: a yacht with white sails | hoist/lower the sails (=put the sails up or down)
2 set sail to begin a journey by boat or ship: The following week the `Queen Elizabeth' set sail for Jamaica.
3 under sail literary moving along on a ship or boat that has sails

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sail — Sail, n. [OE. seil, AS. segel, segl; akin to D. zeil, OHG. segal, G. & Sw. segel, Icel. segl, Dan. seil. [root] 153.] 1. An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sail — [sāl] n. [ME seil, sail < OE segl, akin to Ger segel, prob. ult. < IE base * sek , to cut > L secare, to cut, segmentum, segment] 1. any of the shaped sheets of canvas or other strong material spread to catch or deflect the wind, by… …   English World dictionary

  • sail — ► NOUN 1) a piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship. 2) a wind catching apparatus attached to the arm of a windmill. 3) a voyage or excursion in a sailing boat or ship. ► VERB 1) travel in a sailing boat… …   English terms dictionary

  • Sail 8 — was an attempt at sailing protesters from Cherbourg in Northern France to Edinburgh in Scotland, as part of the 2005 Make Poverty History campaign. Taking place on 3 July 2005, the day after Live 8, the event was intended to be another aspect of… …   Wikipedia

  • Sail — Sail, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sailed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sailing}.] [AS. segelian, seglian. See {Sail}, n.] 1. To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by the action of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sail — Sail, v. t. 1. To pass or move upon, as in a ship, by means of sails; hence, to move or journey upon (the water) by means of steam or other force. [1913 Webster] A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To fly… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sail — [v] travel through water, air; glide boat, captain, cast anchor, cast off, cross, cruise, dart, drift, embark, flit, float, fly, get under way*, leave, make headway, motor, move, navigate, pilot, put to sea*, reach, run, scud, set sail, shoot,… …   New thesaurus

  • sail — |a í| s. m. Óleo de peixe.   ‣ Etimologia: alteração de saim …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • sail — vb float, skim, scud, shoot, dart, *fly …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • sail — sail, to put to sea; to begin a voyage To get ship under way in complete readiness for voyage, with purpose of proceeding without further delay …   Black's law dictionary

  • sail|er — «SAY luhr», noun. 1. a ship with reference to its sailing power: »the best sailer in the fleet, a fast sailer. 2. a sailing vessel …   Useful english dictionary

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