Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense sails, present participle sailing, past tense, past participle sailed
1. countable noun
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.
Synonyms: sheet, canvas More Synonyms of sail
2. verb
You say a ship sails when it moves over the sea.
The trawler had sailed from the port of Zeebrugge. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The Kruzenshtern is expected to sail for Boston this week. [VERB preposition/adverb]
3. verb
If you sail a boat or if a boat sails, it moves across water using its sails.
I shall get myself a little boat and sail her around the world. [VERB noun preposition]
For nearly two hundred miles she sailed on, her sails hard with ice. [VERB adverb/preposition]
She sails beautifully in winds over 60 knots. [VERB]
Synonyms: pilot, steer, helm, navigate More Synonyms of sail
4. countable noun
The sails on a windmill are the long flat parts that are turned by the wind.
...a windmill, its sails turning in the breeze.
5. verb
If a person or thing sails somewhere, they move there smoothly and fairly quickly.
We got into the lift and sailed to the top floor. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The cabs sailed past. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: glide, sweep, float, shoot More Synonyms of sail
6. See also sailing
7.
See to set sail
8.
See under sail
9. to sail close to the wind
10. to take the wind out of someone's sails
Phrasal verbs:
See sail through
More Synonyms of sail
sail in British English
(seɪl)
noun
1.
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
2.
a voyage on such a vessel
a sail down the river
3.
a vessel with sails or such vessels collectively
to travel by sail
we raised seven sail in the northeast
4.
a ship's sails collectively
5.
something resembling a sail in shape, position, or function, such as the part of a windmill that is turned by the wind or the part of a Portuguese man-of-war that projects above the water
6.
the conning tower of a submarine
7. in sail
8. make sail
9. set sail
10. trim one's sails
11. under sail
verb(mainly intr)
12.
to travel in a boat or ship
we sailed to Le Havre
13.
to begin a voyage; set sail
we sail at 5 o'clock
14.
(of a vessel) to move over the water
the liner is sailing to the Caribbean
15. (transitive)
to manoeuvre or navigate a vessel
he sailed the schooner up the channel
16. (transitive)
to sail over
she sailed the Atlantic single-handed
17. (often foll byover, through, etc)
to move fast or effortlessly
we sailed through customs
the ball sailed over the fence
18.
to move along smoothly; glide
19. (often foll byin or into) informal
a.
to begin (something) with vigour
b.
to make an attack (on) violently with words or physical force
Derived forms
sailable (ˈsailable)
adjective
sailless (ˈsailless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English segl; related to Old Frisian seil, Old Norse segl, German Segel
sail in American English
(seɪl)
noun
1.
any of the shaped sheets of canvas or other strong material spread to catch or deflect the wind, by means of which some vessels and some land vehicles are driven forward
2.
sails collectively
3.
a sailing vessel or vessels
4.
a trip in a ship or boat, esp. one moved by sails
5.
anything like a sail, as an arm of a windmill
verb intransitive
6.
a.
to be moved forward by means of a sail or sails
b.
to be moved forward on water by mechanical means such as a propeller
7.
to move upon or travel by water
said of a vessel or its passengers
8.
to begin a trip by water
9.
to manage a sailboat, as in racing or cruising
10.
to glide, float, or move steadily through the air
11.
to move smoothly and with dignity, like a ship in full sail
12. Informal
to move quickly
13. US, Informal
to begin vigorously; throw oneself (into) with energy
14. US, Informal
to attack, criticize, or reprimand someone severely: with into
verb transitive
15.
to move through or upon (a body of water) in a boat or ship
16.
to manage or navigate (a boat or ship)
Idioms:
make sail
sail against the wind
sail close to the wind
set sail
take in sail
under sail
Word origin
ME seil, sail < OE segl, akin to Ger segel, prob. ult. < IE base *sek-, to cut > L secare, to cut, segmentum, segment
More idioms containing
sail
sail under false colours
sail close to the wind
take the wind out of someone's sail
Examples of 'sail' in a sentence
sail
Wind energy can be changed into kinetic energy by the sails on a windmill.
Chapman, C. & Horsley, M. & Small, E. Technology Basic Facts (1990)
Only by going for a sail can you begin to understand the character of the boat.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He had looked it over just after they set sail.
Gavin Weightman THE FROZEN WATER TRADE (2002)
He goes on to become the youngest person to sail solo around the globe.
The Sun (2016)
We now have two sails and it is well and truly sailing.
The Sun (2011)
These are the boats too large to sail with the rest of the flotilla.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We sail in fragile vessels across a raging sea of uncertainty.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We escaped to the woods behind our ranch house and sailed our bathtub boats in the creek.
Christianity Today (2000)
Is the wind in their sails or are their sails flapping?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The sails on one windmill are folded up and point to where the wind had come from.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Time and time again we nearly had the sail to the yard when the wind tore it from our fingers.
Eric Newby A BOOK OF LANDS AND PEOPLES (2003)
They will see with whom the deal can sail smoothly, without headache.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Two years ago he became the youngest person to sail across the Atlantic.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He was fulfilling his life's dream to sail the world.
The Sun (2009)
In total, four ships will sail on 40 voyages of eight different itineraries in the region.
The Sun (2011)
Wooden ships were often hit by lightning and their masts could blow up, the sails and rigging catch fire and the crew be killed or inJured.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
sail
British English: sail /seɪl/ NOUN
Sails are large pieces of material attached to the mast of a boat.
I watched the sails disappear in the distance.
American English: sail
Arabic: شِرَاع
Brazilian Portuguese: vela navio
Chinese: 帆
Croatian: jedro
Czech: plachta
Danish: sejl
Dutch: zeil
European Spanish: vela navegar
Finnish: purje
French: voile bateau
German: Segel
Greek: πανί
Italian: vela
Japanese: 帆
Korean: 돛
Norwegian: seil
Polish: żagiel
European Portuguese: vela navio
Romanian: velă
Russian: парус
Latin American Spanish: vela embarcación
Swedish: segel
Thai: ใบเรือ
Turkish: yelken
Ukrainian: вітрило
Vietnamese: cánh buồm
British English: sail /seɪl/ VERB
If you sail a boat, or if a boat sails, it moves across water.
I'd like to buy a big boat and sail around the world.
American English: sail
Arabic: يُبْحِرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: velejar
Chinese: 航行
Croatian: jedriti
Czech: plout loď
Danish: sejle
Dutch: zeilen
European Spanish: navegar
Finnish: purjehtia
French: naviguer bateau
German: segeln
Greek: πλέω
Italian: navigare
Japanese: 航海する
Korean: 항해하다
Norwegian: seile
Polish: żeglować
European Portuguese: velejar
Romanian: a naviga
Russian: плыть
Latin American Spanish: navegar
Swedish: segla
Thai: แล่นเรือ
Turkish: gemiyle yolculuk etmek
Ukrainian: плисти
Vietnamese: đi thuyền
All related terms of 'sail'
in sail
having the sail set
drag sail
any device, such as a bucket or canvas funnel , dragged in the water to keep a vessel heading into the wind or reduce drifting
full sail
at top speed
gaff sail
Nautical See under gaff 1 (sense 3 ) Also called : gaff-headed sail ( ˈɡæfˌhedɪd )
make sail
to run up the sail or to run up more sail
set sail
to embark on a voyage by ship
lateen sail
a triangular sail bent to a yard hoisted to the head of a low mast , used esp in the Mediterranean
sail maker
someone whose occupation is to make and repair sails for boats
solar sail
a device that reflects light particles from the sun, gaining momentum in the opposite direction to propel spacecraft forwards
square sail
a rectangular or square sail set on a horizontal yard rigged more or less athwartships
under sail
If you cross the sea under sail , you cross it in a ship that has sails rather than an engine .
balloon sail
a large light bellying sail used in light winds
sail through
If someone or something sails through a difficult situation or experience , they deal with it easily and successfully.
take in sail
to lower sails , as in order to reduce the area of sail set
topgallant sail
a mast on a square-rigger above a topmast or an extension of a topmast
to set sail
When a ship sets sail , it leaves a port .
crowd on sail
to hoist as much sail as possible
press of sail
the most sail a vessel can carry under given conditions
sail the seas
The sea is the salty water that covers about three-quarters of the Earth's surface.
fore and aft sail
a sail set in a line from one end the other of a vessel rather than in a square
sail against the wind
to sail a course that slants slightly away from the true direction of the wind ; sail closehauled
studdingsail
a light auxiliary sail set outboard on spars on either side of a square sail
sail close to the wind
to take a risk by doing or saying something which may get you into trouble
sail under false colours
to deliberately deceive people
to sail close to the wind
If you sail close to the wind , you take a risk by doing or saying something that may get you into trouble .
take the wind out of someone's sail
to make someone feel much less confident in what they are doing or saying
Chinese translation of 'sail'
sail
(seɪl)
n(c)
[of boat, yacht]帆 (fān) (张(張), zhāng)
vt
[boat, yacht]驾(駕)驶(駛) (jiàshǐ)
vi
(= travel)
[ship]航行 (hángxíng)
[sailor]扬(揚)帆行驶(駛) (yángfān xíngshǐ)
[passenger]乘船航行 (chéngchuán hángxíng)
(= begin voyage) 起航 (qǐháng)
(= fly)
to sail over/across/up to sth飞(飛)过(過)/飞(飛)越/上升到某处(處) (fēiguò/fēiyuè/shàngshēng dào mǒuchù)
to set sail起航 (qǐháng)
to sail for or to set sail for起航前往 (qǐháng qiánwǎng)
to go sailing去航行 (qù hángxíng)
All related terms of 'sail'
sail through
( exams, interview etc ) 顺(順)利地通过(過) shùnlì de tōngguò