sail
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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
Not to be confused with:
sale – the act of selling; the amount sold; disposal of goods at reduced prices; an event where goods are sold; a public auction
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
sail
(sāl)n.
1. Nautical
a. A piece of fabric sewn together and fitted to the spars and rigging of a vessel so as to convert the force of the wind into forward motion of the vessel.
b. The sails of a ship or boat.
c. A narrow fairwater supporting the bridge of a submarine.
2. pl. sail or sails Nautical A sailing vessel.
3. Nautical A trip or voyage in a sailing craft.
4. Something, such as the blade of a windmill, that resembles a sail in form or function.
v. sailed, sail·ing, sails
v.intr.
1. Nautical
a. To move across the surface of water, especially by means of a sailing vessel.
b. To travel by water in a vessel.
c. To start out on such a voyage or journey: Tomorrow we sail for the islands.
d. To operate a sailing craft, especially for sport.
2. To move along or progress smoothly or effortlessly: sailed into the room five minutes late; sailed through the exam; sailed through the red light.
3. To move along through the air: The ball sailed into the stands.
v.tr. Nautical
Phrasal Verb: 1. To navigate or manage (a vessel).
2. To voyage upon or across: sail the Pacific.
sail into
Idiom: To attack or criticize vigorously: sailed into the workmen for the shoddy job they were doing.
under sail
Nautical With the sails up; sailing.
[Middle English seil, from Old English segl. Sail into, from obsolete sail, to attack, from Middle English sailen, short for assailen; see assail.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
sail
(seɪl)n
1. (Nautical Terms) 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. (Nautical Terms) a voyage on such a vessel: a sail down the river.
3. (Nautical Terms) a vessel with sails or such vessels collectively: to travel by sail; we raised seven sail in the northeast.
4. (Nautical Terms) 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. (Nautical Terms) the conning tower of a submarine
7. (Nautical Terms) in sail having the sail set
8. (Nautical Terms) make sail
a. to run up the sail or to run up more sail
b. to begin a voyage
9. (Nautical Terms) set sail
a. to embark on a voyage by ship
b. to hoist sail
10. trim one's sails to act in a more frugal or restrained manner
11. (Nautical Terms) under sail
a. with sail hoisted
b. under way
vb (mainly intr)
12. (Nautical Terms) to travel in a boat or ship: we sailed to Le Havre.
13. (Nautical Terms) to begin a voyage; set sail: we sail at 5 o'clock.
14. (Nautical Terms) (of a vessel) to move over the water: the liner is sailing to the Caribbean.
15. (Nautical Terms) (tr) to manoeuvre or navigate a vessel: he sailed the schooner up the channel.
16. (Nautical Terms) (tr) to sail over: she sailed the Atlantic single-handed.
17. (often foll by: over, through, etc) to move fast or effortlessly: we sailed through customs; the ball sailed over the fence.
18. to move along smoothly; glide
19. informal
a. to begin (something) with vigour
b. to make an attack (on) violently with words or physical force
[Old English segl; related to Old Frisian seil, Old Norse segl, German Segel]
ˈsailable adj
ˈsailless adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sail
(seɪl)n.
1. an area of canvas or other fabric extended on a ship or other vessel or vehicle to catch the wind for propulsion.
2. a similar apparatus, as on a windmill.
3. a voyage or excursion esp. in a vessel with sails.
4. sailing vessels collectively.
5. the sails of a ship or boat.
v.i. 6. to travel on water in a ship or boat.
7. to manage a sailboat, esp. for sport.
8. to begin a journey by water.
9. to move along in a manner suggestive of a sailing vessel: caravans sailing along.
10. to move along in a stately, effortless way: to sail into a room.
v.t. 11. to sail upon, over, or through: to sail the seven seas.
12. to navigate (a vessel).
13. sail into, to attack vigorously; assail.
Idioms: 1. set or make sail, to start a voyage.
2. under sail, with sails set; in motion; sailing.
[before 900; (n.) Old English segl, c. Old Frisian seil, Old Saxon segel, Old High German segal (German Segel), Old Norse segl; (v.) Old English siglan, seglian]
sail′a•ble, adj.
sail′less, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
sail
- Once meant specifically "to travel on a ship with sails," and, later, "to travel on any ship"; figuratively, it means "to go through effortlessly," as in, "to sail through the exam."See also related terms for sails.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sail
sailing vessels collectively, 1436; sails collectively, 1385; windmill sails collectively.Examples: sail of ducks, 1727; of ships, 1633; of Spaniards, 1458.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
sail
Past participle: sailed
Gerund: sailing
| Imperative |
|---|
| sail |
| sail |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  sail - a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vesselballoon sail - any light loose sail crossjack, mizzen course - the lowermost sail on a mizzenmast fore-and-aft sail - any sail not set on a yard and whose normal position is in a fore-and-aft direction foresail - the lowest sail on the foremast of a square-rigged vessel reef - one of several strips across a sail that can be taken in or rolled up to lessen the area of the sail that is exposed to the wind headsail - any sail set forward of the foremast of a vessel mainsail - the lowermost sail on the mainmast main-topsail - a topsail set on the mainmast piece of cloth, piece of material - a separate part consisting of fabric press of canvas, press of sail - the greatest amount of sail that a ship can carry safely royal - a sail set next above the topgallant on a royal mast sailing ship, sailing vessel - a vessel that is powered by the wind; often having several masts save-all - a sail set to catch wind spilled from a larger sail skysail - the sail above the royal on a square-rigger square sail - a four-sided sail set beneath a horizontal yard suspended at the middle from a mast topgallant, topgallant sail - a sail set on a yard of a topgallant mast topsail - a sail (or either of a pair of sails) immediately above the lowermost sail of a mast and supported by a topmast |
| 2. |  sail - an ocean trip taken for pleasure ocean trip, voyage - an act of traveling by water | |
| 3. | sail - any structure that resembles a sail structure, construction - a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons" | |
| Verb | 1. | sail - traverse or travel on (a body of water); "We sailed the Atlantic"; "He sailed the Pacific all alone" |
| 2. | sail - move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions; "The diva swept into the room"; "Shreds of paper sailed through the air"; "The searchlights swept across the sky" move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" swan - sweep majestically; "Airplanes were swanning over the mountains" sweep, brush - sweep across or over; "Her long skirt brushed the floor"; "A gasp swept cross the audience" ace, breeze through, pass with flying colors, sail through, sweep through, nail - succeed at easily; "She sailed through her exams"; "You will pass with flying colors"; "She nailed her astrophysics course" | |
| 3. | sail - travel on water propelled by wind; "I love sailing, especially on the open sea"; "the ship sails on" run - sail before the wind weather - sail to the windward of boat - ride in a boat on water beat - sail with much tacking or with difficulty; "The boat beat in the strong wind" outpoint - sail closer to the wind than wear round, tack - turn into the wind; "The sailors decided to tack the boat"; "The boat tacked" wear ship - turn away from the wind; "The sailors decided it was time to wear ship" change course, gybe, jib, jibe - shift from one side of the ship to the other; "The sail jibbed wildly" | |
| 4. |  sail - travel on water propelled by wind or by other means; "The QE2 will sail to Southampton tomorrow"astrogate - navigate in space cruise - sail or travel about for pleasure, relaxation, or sightseeing; "We were cruising in the Caribbean" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
sail
verb
1. go by water, cruise, voyage, ride the waves, go by sea We sailed upstream
2. set sail, embark, get under way, put to sea, put off, leave port, hoist sail, cast or weigh anchor, hoist the blue peter The boat is due to sail tonight.
sail through something cruise through, walk through, romp through, pass easily, succeed easily at She sailed through her maths exams.
set sail put to sea, embark, get under way, put off, leave port, hoist sail, cast or weigh anchor, hoist the blue peter He loaded his vessel with another cargo and set sail.
under sail sailing, cruising, on the sea, riding the waves a big ship under sail
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
sail
verb1. To move swiftly:
bolt, bucket, bustle, dart, dash, festinate, flash, fleet, flit, fly, haste, hasten, hurry, hustle, pelt, race, rocket, run, rush, scoot, scour, shoot, speed, sprint, tear, trot, whirl, whisk, whiz, wing, zip, zoom.
Chiefly British: nip.
Idioms: get a move on, get cracking, go like lightning, go like the wind, hotfoot it, make haste, make time, make tracks, run like the wind, shake a leg, step on it.
sail inphrasal verb
sail into
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
تَبْدأ الرِّحْلَهجَوْلَه في قارِب شِراعيريشَة المَرْوَحَهشِراعشِرَاع
plachtaploutplachtitplavbalopatka
sejlsejlesejlturskridevingearm
purjepurjehtiaseilatasiipitorni
jedritijedroklizitiplovidbaploviti
átsétálátúszikvitorla
seglsiglasigla umsigla, halda úr höfnsigla, stjórna
帆航海する
돛항해하다
navigovelum
burėburinisburiuotiburlentėkeliauti laivu
braukt ar kuģi/laivuburaburātcēli kustētiesceļojums ar kuģi/laivu
naviga
odplávaťplachtapreplávať
jadrokrmaritiodplutijadranjejadrati
jedrenjejedro
segelsegla
แล่นเรือใบเรือ
cánh buồmđi thuyền
sail
[seɪl]A. N
1. (Naut) (= cloth) → vela f
the age of sail → la época de la navegación a vela
in or under full sail → a toda vela, a vela llena
to lower the sails → arriar las velas
to set sail [ship, person] → hacerse a la vela, zarpar
we set sail from Portsmouth → nos hicimos a la vela en Portsmouth
to set sail for Liverpool → zarpar hacia Liverpool, hacerse a la vela con rumbo a Liverpool
to take in the sails → amainar las velas
under sail → a vela
to take the wind out of sb's sails → bajarle los humos a algn
the age of sail → la época de la navegación a vela
in or under full sail → a toda vela, a vela llena
to lower the sails → arriar las velas
to set sail [ship, person] → hacerse a la vela, zarpar
we set sail from Portsmouth → nos hicimos a la vela en Portsmouth
to set sail for Liverpool → zarpar hacia Liverpool, hacerse a la vela con rumbo a Liverpool
to take in the sails → amainar las velas
under sail → a vela
to take the wind out of sb's sails → bajarle los humos a algn
2. (Naut) (= trip) → paseo m en barco
it's three days' sail from here → desde aquí se tarda tres días en barco
to go for a sail → dar una vuelta en barco
it's three days' sail from here → desde aquí se tarda tres días en barco
to go for a sail → dar una vuelta en barco
4. [of windmill] → aspa f
B. VT [+ boat, ship] → gobernar
to sail the Atlantic → cruzar el Atlántico
he sails his own boat → tiene barco propio
they sailed the ship to Cadiz → fueron con el barco a Cádiz
to sail the (seven) seas → navegar (en alta mar)
to sail the Atlantic → cruzar el Atlántico
he sails his own boat → tiene barco propio
they sailed the ship to Cadiz → fueron con el barco a Cádiz
to sail the (seven) seas → navegar (en alta mar)
C. VI
1. (Naut) [boat, ship, person] → navegar
to sail at 12 knots → navegar a 12 nudos, ir a 12 nudos
we sailed into harbour → entramos a puerto
we sailed into Lisbon → llegamos a Lisboa
to sail round the world → dar la vuelta al mundo en barco
to sail round a headland → doblar un cabo
to sail up the Tagus → navegar por el Tajo, subir el Tajo
to sail close to the wind → pisar terreno peligroso
to sail at 12 knots → navegar a 12 nudos, ir a 12 nudos
we sailed into harbour → entramos a puerto
we sailed into Lisbon → llegamos a Lisboa
to sail round the world → dar la vuelta al mundo en barco
to sail round a headland → doblar un cabo
to sail up the Tagus → navegar por el Tajo, subir el Tajo
to sail close to the wind → pisar terreno peligroso
2. (Naut) (= leave) → zarpar, salir
the boat sails at eight o'clock → el barco zarpa or sale a las ocho
we sail for Australia soon → pronto zarpamos or salimos hacia Australia
she sails on Monday → zarpa or sale el lunes
the boat sails at eight o'clock → el barco zarpa or sale a las ocho
we sail for Australia soon → pronto zarpamos or salimos hacia Australia
she sails on Monday → zarpa or sale el lunes
3. (fig)
she sailed into the room → entró majestuosamente en la sala
the plate sailed over my head → el plato voló por encima de mi cabeza
she sailed into the room → entró majestuosamente en la sala
the plate sailed over my head → el plato voló por encima de mi cabeza
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
sail
[ˈseɪl] vt
[+ boat] (= be in charge of) → piloter (= steer) → manœuvrer
vi
(= travel) [ship] → avancer, naviguer; [passenger] → aller (en bateau)
to sail somewhere
They sailed into Le Havre → Ils sont entrés dans le port du Havre.
to sail somewhere
They sailed into Le Havre → Ils sont entrés dans le port du Havre.
vi (= succeed easily) → réussir haut la main
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
sail
n
→ Segel nt; (of windmill) → Flügel m; under sail → mit aufgezogenen Segeln; in or under full sail → mit vollen Segeln; with all sails set → mit gesetzten Segeln; to make sail (= hoist) → Segel setzen; to set or make sail (for …) → los- or abfahren (nach …); (with sailing boat) → absegeln (nach …); he set sail from Dover → er fuhr von Dover los; (with sailing boat) → er segelte von Dover ab or los
vt ship → segeln mit; liner etc → steuern; they sailed the ship to Cadiz → sie segelten nach Cadiz; he sails his own yacht → er hat eine eigene Jacht; to sail the Atlantic → den Atlantik durchkreuzen; to sail the seas → die Meere befahren
vi
(Naut) → fahren; (with yacht) → segeln; are you flying? — no, sailing → fliegen Sie? — nein, ich fahre mit dem Schiff; I went sailing for a week → ich ging eine Woche segeln; to sail round the world → um die Welt segeln, die Erde umsegeln; to sail round a headland → eine Landzunge umfahren/umsegeln
(= leave) (→ nach) → abfahren; (yacht, in yacht) → absegeln; passengers sailing for New York → Passagiere nach New York
(fig) (glider, swan etc) → gleiten; (moon, clouds) → ziehen; (ball, object) → fliegen; the plate sailed past my head → der Teller segelte an meinem Kopf vorbei; she sailed past/out of the room → sie rauschte vorbei/aus dem Zimmer (inf); she sailed into the room → sie kam ins Zimmer gerauscht (inf); she sailed through all her exams → sie schaffte alle Prüfungen spielend or mit Leichtigkeit; the week just sailed by (inf) → die Woche verging wie im Flug
sail
:sailboard
n → Windsurfbrett nt
vi → windsurfen
sailboarder
n → Windsurfer(in) m(f)
sailboarding
n → Windsurfen nt
sailboat
n (US) → Segelboot nt
sailcloth
n → Segeltuch nt
sailfish
n → Fächerfisch m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
sail
[seɪl]1. n (of boat) → vela; (of windmill) → pala; (trip) to go for a sail → fare un giro in barca a vela
to set sail → salpare
under sail → a vela
to set sail → salpare
under sail → a vela
2. vt
3. vi
a. (travel, ship) → navigare; (000, person) → viaggiare per mare
to sail into harbour → entrare in porto
the ship sailed into Naples → la nave è arrivata a Napoli
to sail round the Cape → doppiare il Capo
to sail away/back → allontanarsi/rientrare in barca
they sailed into Genoa → sono entrati nel porto di Genova
to sail round the world → fare il giro del mondo in barca a vela
to sail close to the wind (fig) → tirare troppo la corda
to sail into harbour → entrare in porto
the ship sailed into Naples → la nave è arrivata a Napoli
to sail round the Cape → doppiare il Capo
to sail away/back → allontanarsi/rientrare in barca
they sailed into Genoa → sono entrati nel porto di Genova
to sail round the world → fare il giro del mondo in barca a vela
to sail close to the wind (fig) → tirare troppo la corda
d. (fig) (clouds) → veleggiare; (swan) → incedere maestosamente
she sailed into the room → fece il suo ingresso solenne nella stanza
the plate sailed over my head → il piatto è volato al di sopra della mia testa
she sailed into the room → fece il suo ingresso solenne nella stanza
the plate sailed over my head → il piatto è volato al di sopra della mia testa
sail through
1. vi + adv (fig) → farcela senza difficoltà
2. vi + prep (fig) → fare qc senza difficoltà; (pass, exam, driving text) → superare senza difficoltà
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
sail
(seil) noun1. a sheet of strong cloth spread to catch the wind, by which a ship is driven forward.
2. a journey in a ship. a sail in his yacht; a week's sail to the island.
3. an arm of a windmill.
verb1. (of a ship) to be moved by sails. The yacht sailed away.
2. to steer or navigate a ship or boat. He sailed (the boat) to the island.
3. to go in a ship or boat (with or without sails). I've never sailed through the Mediterranean.
4. to begin a voyage. The ship sails today; My aunt sailed today.
5. to travel on (the sea etc) in a ship. He sailed the North Sea.
6. to move steadily and easily. Clouds sailed across the sky; He sailed through his exams; She sailed into the room.
ˈsailboard noun a windsurfer.
ˈsailing noun the activity or sport of navigating a ship or boat that has sails. Sailing is one of his hobbies.
sailing- having a sail or sails. sailing-boat.
ˈsailor noun a member of a ship's crew whose job is helping to sail a ship.
in full sail with all the sails spread. The ship was in full sail.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
sail
→ شِرَاع, يُبْحِرُ plachta, plout sejl, sejle Segel, segeln πανί, πλέω navegar, vela purje, purjehtia naviguer, voile jedriti, jedro navigare, vela 帆, 航海する 돛, 항해하다 zeil, zeilen seil, seile żagiel, żeglować vela, velejar парус, плыть segel, segla แล่นเรือ, ใบเรือ gemiyle yolculuk etmek, yelken cánh buồm, đi thuyền 帆, 航行Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009