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1. Dictionary

   sail

   /seɪl/

   noun

   • 1. a piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship or other vessel: "all the sails were unfurled"
   • ▪ the use of sailing ships as a means of transport: "this led to bigger ships as steam replaced sail"
   • ▪ a sailing ship: archaic "sail ahoy!"
   • 2. a wind-catching apparatus attached to the arm of a windmill.
   • ▪ the broad fin on the back of a sailfish or of some prehistoric reptiles.
   • ▪ a structure by which an animal is propelled across the surface of water by the wind, e.g. the float of a Portuguese man-of-war.
   • 3. a voyage or excursion in a ship, especially a sailing ship or boat: "they went for a sail"
   • 4. the conning tower of a submarine.
   • 5. a canvas sheet or tarpaulin: South African "the sail covering the load of crates broke loose from the truck"

   verb

   • 1. travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation: "Ian took us out sailing on the lake" Similar yachtboatgo sailingcrewhelmskipper a boat
   • ▪ travel in a ship or boat using sails or engine power: "the ferry caught fire sailing between Caen and Portsmouth" Similar go by watergo by seago on a sea voyagevoyagesteamnavigatecruiseride the waves
   • ▪ begin a voyage; leave a harbour: "the catamaran sails at 3:30" Similar set sailput to seaput out (to sea)leave portleave dockleave harbourhoist sailraise sailweigh anchorput offshove off
   • ▪ travel by ship on or across (a sea) or on (a route): "plastic ships could be sailing the oceans soon" Similar go by watergo by seago on a sea voyagevoyagesteamnavigatecruiseride the waves
   • ▪ navigate or control (a boat or ship): "I stole a small fishing boat and sailed it to the Delta" Similar steercaptainpilotskippernavigateconhelm
   • 2. move smoothly and rapidly or in a stately or confident manner: "the ball sailed inside the right-hand post" Similar glidedriftfloatflowslideslipsweepskimcoastskatebreezeflitwhizzspeedstreakshootwhipwhooshbuzzzoomflashblastcareerflywingkiteskitescudinformal:scorchtearzapzipsoarwingwing its waytake to the airflyascendmountclimbarccurve
   • ▪ succeed easily at (something, especially a test or examination): informal "Ali sailed through his exams"
   • ▪ attack physically or verbally with force. informal

   Word Origin Old Englishsegel (noun), seglian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zeil and German Segel (nouns).

   Derivatives

   • 1. sailable adjective
   • 2. sailless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 4

   • S

     1

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSAIL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   SAIL definition: 1. When a boat or a ship sails, it travels on the water: 2. to control a boat that has no engine…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › sailSail Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › sail

   • Cached

   The meaning of SAIL is an extent of fabric (such as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a ship through water. How to use sail in a sentence.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › sailSAIL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › sail

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   noun. an area of fabric, usually Terylene or nylon (formerly canvas), with fittings for holding it in any suitable position to catch the wind, used for propelling certain kinds of vessels, esp over water. a voyage on such a vessel. a sail down the river.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySAIL | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   SAIL meaning: 1. When a boat or a ship sails, it travels on the water: 2. to control a boat that has no engine…. Learn more.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishSAIL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Sails are large pieces of material attached to the mast of a ship. The wind blows against the sails and pushes the ship along. The white sails billow with the breezes they catch.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › sailSail - definition of sail by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › sail

   • Cached

   sail. a piece of canvas or other fabric extended on rigging to catch the wind and propel a sailing vessel; an apparatus that catches the wind on a windmill; to move along or travel over water.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishsail verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   [intransitive] + adv./prep. to move quickly and smoothly in a particular direction; (of people) to move in a confident manner. clouds sailing across the sky. The ball sailed over the goalie's head. She sailed past, ignoring me completely.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishsail noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   noun. /seɪl/. /seɪl/. Idioms. [countable, uncountable] a sheet of strong cloth which the wind blows against to make a boat or ship travel through the water. As the boat moved down the river the wind began to fill the sails. under sail a ship under sail (= using sails)

10. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › sailSail - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

    www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › sail

    A sail is the big piece of cloth attached to a mast that propels a sailboat through the water by catching the wind. Part of learning to sail a boat is learning how to use the sails. Most sailboats have two sails, the mainsail and the jib or headsail on the front of the boat.

11. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySAIL | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

    • Cached

    SAIL meaning: 1. to travel in a boat or a ship: 2. to control a boat that has no engine and is pushed by the…. Learn more.