sail

noun countable

UK /seɪl/

Word Forms

singular	sail
plural	sails

1
a large piece of strong cloth fixed to a tall pole on a boat, used for catching wind to move the boat across water
Synonyms and related words
Parts of boats and ships
aft
amidships
bay
2
trim your sails
to make changes in response to circumstances, for example by spending less money
I’ve had lots of financial problems recently. So I should trim my sails.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 01/12/2018
Open Dictionary - December2018

phrases

set sail

under sail

sail

noun countable

US /seɪl/

Word Forms

singular	sail
plural	sails

1
a large piece of strong cloth attached to a tall pole on a boat, used for catching wind to move the boat across water
Synonyms and related words
Parts of boats and ships
aft
amidships
bay
2
trim your sails
to make changes in response to circumstances, for example by spending less money
I’ve had lots of financial problems recently. So I should trim my sails.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 01/12/2018
Open Dictionary - December2018

phrases

set sail

under sail

sail

verb

UK /seɪl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	sail
he/she/it	sails
present participle	sailing
past tense	sailed
past participle	sailed

1
intransitive/transitive if a boat sails, it moves across the surface of a sea, lake, river etc
The yacht sailed into harbour.
The boat was never designed to sail such rough seas.
Synonyms and related words
What ships and boats do
capsize
cast off
come about
1. 1a
  intransitive to travel somewhere by boat or ship
  Sail to Greece aboard the SS Monterey.
  Synonyms and related words
  Sailing and boating
  a bad/good sailor
  the Admiral’s Cup
  ahoy
2. 1b
  intransitive to begin a journey by boat or ship
  We sail for Guadalajara early tomorrow morning.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start a journey
  depart
  embark on
  hit the road
3. 1c
  intransitive/transitive to control the movement of a boat or ship, especially one that uses the wind to move it
  It’s a great opportunity to learn to sail.
  They spent their holiday sailing the Caribbean (=sailing a boat around the Caribbean).
  Synonyms and related words
  Sailing and boating
  a bad/good sailor
  the Admiral’s Cup
  ahoy
2
intransitive to move quickly and easily
He sailed past us without even saying a word.
The ball sailed over his head and into the goal.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed
3
sail close to the wind
to do something that is risky or dangerous
She’s sailing close to the wind by behaving like that!
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 03/08/2018
Open Dictionary - August2018
4
sail against the wind
to try to achieve something that is unlikely to succeed
He is sailing against the wind to score the best among his classmates.
Submitted on:
04/03/2018
Open Dictionary - March2018

phrasal verbs

sail through

sail

verb

US /seɪl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	sail
he/she/it	sails
present participle	sailing
past tense	sailed
past participle	sailed

1
intransitive/transitive if a boat sails, it moves across the surface of an ocean, lake, river, etc.
The yacht sailed into harbor.
The boat was never designed to sail such rough seas.
Synonyms and related words
What ships and boats do
capsize
cast off
come about
1. 1a
  intransitive to travel somewhere by boat or ship
  Sail to Greece aboard the SS Monterey.
  Synonyms and related words
  Sailing and boating
  a bad/good sailor
  the Admiral’s Cup
  ahoy
2. 1b
  intransitive to begin a trip by boat or ship
  We sail for Guadalajara tomorrow morning.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start a journey
  depart
  embark on
  hit the road
3. 1c
  intransitive/transitive to control the movement of a boat or ship, especially one that uses the wind to move it
  It’s a great opportunity to learn to sail.
  They spent their vacation sailing the Caribbean (=sailing a boat around the Caribbean).
  Synonyms and related words
  Sailing and boating
  a bad/good sailor
  the Admiral’s Cup
  ahoy
2
intransitive to move quickly and easily
He sailed past us without even saying a word.
The ball sailed over his head and into the goal.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed
3
sail close to the wind
to do something that is risky or dangerous
She’s sailing close to the wind by behaving like that!
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 03/08/2018
Open Dictionary - August2018
4
sail against the wind
to try to achieve something that is unlikely to succeed
He is sailing against the wind to score the best among his classmates.
Submitted on:
04/03/2018
Open Dictionary - March2018

phrasal verbs

sail through

sail ​‌

trim your sails

sail ​‌

trim your sails

sail ​‌‌

sail close to the wind

sail against the wind

sail ​‌‌

sail close to the wind

sail against the wind

sail

sail

sail

sail