Sail

/seɪl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A piece of fabric used to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship.

The sailors hoisted the large white sail as the ship left the harbor.

The action or process of sailing.

We enjoyed the sail across the lake on a sunny afternoon.

verb

To travel on water in a boat or ship using sails.

They decided to sail around the Mediterranean during their summer vacation.

To move smoothly through the air or on water.

The bird began to sail gracefully above the treetops.

Middle English 'sail', from Old English 'sægl', of Germanic origin.

set sail

To begin a journey by water.

sail through

To complete something easily.

sail close to the wind

To behave in a risky manner, often against the rules.

maritime

Relating to the sea or ocean.

yacht

A medium-sized sailboat or motorboat.

navigation

The process of planning and directing the course of a vehicle.

To leave quickly.

I need to sail out of here before the traffic gets bad.

To live freely or to be carefree.

After finishing school, he just wanted to sail and see the world.