sail
8 ENTRIES FOUND:
sails;
sailed;
sailing
sails;
sailed;
sailing
Britannica Dictionary definition of SAIL
1
a
:
to travel on water in a ship or boat
[no object]
-
sail across/on/over the sea/ocean
-
We'll sail along/up/down the coast.
-
He sailed around the world on a luxury liner.
[+ object]
-
She sailed the Atlantic coastline.
b
:
to control a ship or boat (especially one that has sails) while traveling on water
[+ object]
-
She's sailing a boat in tomorrow's race.
-
The ship was sailed by a crew of 8.
[no object]
-
I've been sailing since I was a child.
-
learning to sail
c
of a ship or boat
:
to travel on water
[+ object]
-
a ship that has sailed the seven seas
[no object]
-
We sat on the shore watching boats sail by.
2
[no object]
:
to begin a journey on water in a ship or boat
-
We sail at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
-
They sail for/to San Francisco next week.
-
The ship will be ready to sail in a week.
3
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[no object]
:
to move or proceed in an easy, quick, and smooth way
-
He sailed into the room. [=he walked quickly into the room in a very confident and easy way]
-
The ball sailed [=flew] over the shortstop's head.
-
The bill sailed through the legislature. [=the bill passed through the legislature very easily; the bill quickly became a law]
-
She sailed through the exam/course. [=she easily passed the exam/course]
sail close to the wind
British
:
to do something that is dangerous or that may be illegal or dishonest
-
The company was sailing close to the wind, but it's not clear if they were breaking the law or not.
2
sail
/ˈseɪl/
noun
plural
sails
2
sail
/ˈseɪl/
noun
plural
sails
Britannica Dictionary definition of SAIL
1
[count]
:
a large piece of strong cloth that is connected to a ship or boat and that is used to catch the wind that moves the ship or boat through the water
—
see picture at boat
-
Wind filled the sails and our journey had begun.
-
raising and lowering the ship's sails
2
[singular]
:
a trip in a ship or boat
-
a sail to San Francisco
in full sail
of a ship or boat also at full sail
:
moving through the water by using all of its sails
-
a yacht in full sail
set sail
:
to begin a journey on water in a ship or boat
-
They set sail for/from San Francisco tomorrow.
take the wind out of someone's sails
under sail
of a ship or boat
:
moving through the water by using sails
