sea

American  

[see] / si /

noun

• seas
  plural

1. the salt waters that cover the greater part of the earth's surface.

2. a division of these waters, of considerable extent, more or less definitely marked off by land boundaries.

   the North Sea.

3. one of the seven seas; ocean.

4. a large lake or landlocked body of water.

5. the degree or amount of turbulence of the ocean or other body of water, as caused by the wind.

6. the waves.

7. a large wave.

   The heavy seas almost drowned us.

8. a widely extended, copious, or overwhelming quantity.

   a sea of faces; a sea of troubles.

   Synonyms:

   mass, abundance, host, multitude

9. the work, travel, and shipboard life of a sailor.

   The sea is a hard life but a rewarding one.

10. Astronomy. mare.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or adapted for use at sea.

idioms

1. at sea, Also

   1. on the ocean.

   2. perplexed; uncertain.

      completely at sea as to how to answer the question.

2. go to sea,

   1. to set out on a voyage.

   2. to embark on a nautical career.

3. half seas over, partly or completely drunk: Also

   They came home at dawn, looking half seas over.

4. put to sea, to embark on a sea voyage: Also put out to sea.

   The expedition is nearly ready to put to sea.

5. follow the sea, to pursue a nautical career.

   Many boys then dreamed of following the sea.

sea British  

/ siː /

noun

1. 1. the mass of salt water on the earth's surface as differentiated from the land

   2. ( as modifier )

      sea air

2. (capital when part of place name)

   1. one of the smaller areas of ocean

      the Irish Sea

   2. a large inland area of water

      the Caspian Sea

3. turbulence or swell, esp of considerable size

   heavy seas

4. (capital when part of a name) astronomy any of many huge dry plains on the surface of the moon See also mare 2

5. anything resembling the sea in size or apparent limitlessness

6. the life or career of a sailor (esp in the phrase follow the sea )

7. 1. on the ocean

   2. in a state of confusion

8. to become a sailor

9. to embark on a sea voyage

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sea Scientific  

/ sē /

1. The continuous body of salt water that covers most of the Earth's surface.

2. A region of water within an ocean and partly enclosed by land, such as the North Sea.

3. See Note at ocean

4. A large body of either fresh or salt water that is completely enclosed by land, such as the Caspian Sea.

5. Astronomy A mare.

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sea More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing sea

• at sea
• between a rock and a hard place (devil and the deep blue sea)
• high seas
• not the only fish in the sea
• put out (to sea)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• seas
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of sea

First recorded before 900; Middle English see, Old English sǣ; cognate with Dutch zee, German See, Old Norse sær “sea,” Gothic saiws “marsh”

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Explanation

A sea is a huge body of salt water, typically a part of the ocean that's near land. Much grander than a lake or river, a sea can appear open and endless when you view it from the shore. The best-known examples of sea include the Mediterranean Sea, Bering Sea, and Caribbean Sea. The word sea can also refer to large waves. If there's a sea warning, it would be wise to reschedule your sailing trip. Sea can be used more figuratively to describe something that seems to be vast in quantity, just like the sea. The audience at your concert might look like an endless sea of people.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sea seas

African countries are pushing for the COP31 agenda to include discussions on the tripling of adaptation finance, which aims to help poorer nations pay for measures such as building sea walls or planting drought-resistant crops.

From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2026

Warm greenhouse temperatures, elevated sea levels, and coastal waters rich in nutrients may have supported an unusually diverse range of marine life.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 8, 2026

As the sun rises over the Indian Ocean, waves lap onto the golden sands while palm fronds rustle in the cool sea breeze.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

Wherever possible, materials were sent by sea during the annual short thaw to avoid expensive airfreight.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

The smell of the sea was in it, salty and sweet.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

This isn’t just a jam-packed vacation on the high seas for them, it’s a passion project that begins long before the suitcases come out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

The Southern Pacific muscled out the competition not just on land but on the seas and rivers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

"It will take time, but record investment will help secure water supplies, support growth, and end sewage entering rivers and seas," a spokesperson said.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Scientists warn that November and December’s tides will strengthen again, culminating not only in rough, high seas but also heavy expected rains from El Niño.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

Most importantly, alongside seas and rivers rich in seafood and waterfowl, humans set up permanent fishing villages—the first permanent settlements in history, long predating the Agricultural Revolution.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

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