seal
1an embossed emblem, figure, symbol, word, letter, etc., used as attestation or evidence of authenticity:Without the seal, the certificate is useless.
a stamp, medallion, ring, etc., engraved with such a device, for impressing paper, wax, lead, or the like: The king took the seal from his finger and applied it to the document.
the impression so obtained: It was unmistakably the royal seal on the document.
a mark or symbol attached to a legal document and imparting a formal character to it, originally wax with an impression:Part of his job was stamping the lawyer's seal next to each of her signatures.
a piece of wax or similar adhesive substance so attached to an envelope, folded document, etc., that it must be broken when the object is opened, insuring that the contents have not been tampered with or altered.
anything that tightly or completely closes or secures a thing, as closures or fastenings for doors and railroad cars, adhesive stamps and tapes used to secure the flap of an envelope, etc.
something that keeps a thing secret: Her vow was the seal that kept her silent.
a decorative stamp, especially as given to contributors to a charitable fund: a Christmas seal.
a mark, sign, symbol, or the like, serving as visible evidence of something.
anything that serves as assurance, confirmation, or bond: She gave the plan her seal of approval.
Plumbing.
a small amount of water held by a trap to exclude foul gases from a sewer or the like.
the depth of the part of the water that actually excludes the gases.
the seals, British. the tokens or signs of public office.
to affix a seal to in authorization, testimony, etc.
to assure, confirm, or bind with or as if with a seal: They sealed the bargain with a handshake.
to impress a seal upon as evidence of legal or standard exactness, measure, quality, etc.
to close by any form of fastening that must be broken before access can be gained.
to fasten or close tightly by or as if by a seal: She was sealing envelopes. My lips are sealed.
to decide irrevocably: to seal someone's fate.
to grant under one's seal or authority, as a pardon.
Mormon Church. to make (a marriage or adoption) forever binding; solemnize.
Electricity. to bring (a plug and jack or socket) into locked or fully aligned position.
seal off,
to close hermetically: to seal off a jar.
to block (an entrance, area, etc.) completely so as to prevent escape or entrance: The police sealed off the area after the bomb threat was received.
Idioms about seal
set one's seal to, to give one's approval to; authorize; endorse: Both families have set their seal to the marriage.
seal / close the deal. See entry at seal the deal.
Origin of seal
1Other words from seal
- seal·a·ble, adjective
- re·seal·a·ble, adjective
Words that may be confused with seal
- ceiling, sealing
Words Nearby seal
Other definitions for seal (2 of 4)
any of numerous marine carnivores of the suborder Pinnipedia, including the eared or fur seals, as the sea lion, and the earless or hair seals, as the harbor seal.
the skin of such an animal.
to hunt, kill, or capture seals.
Origin of seal
2Other words from seal
- seallike, adjective
Other definitions for seal (3 of 4)
Other definitions for SEAL (4 of 4)
a member of the U.S. Navy’s special operations forces.
Origin of SEAL
4Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use seal in a sentence
Fellow seal Matt Bissonnette also claims to have shot bin Laden.
Exclusive: Bin Laden ‘Shooter’ Under Investigation for Leaking Secrets | Shane Harris | December 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTVreeland believes that in the end, his grandmother put her subtle seal of approval on his lifestyle.
Simultaneously, a brigade of mercenaries and Congolese soldiers would seal off the city and expel the guerrillas.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis | Nina Strochlic | November 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNow the lead breacher explained how he cut through the steel doors bin Laden used to seal himself into the compound at night.
The father had known tragedy with the death of his son, the former seal, when he was just 51.
For Next AG, Obama Picks a Quiet Fighter With a Heavy Punch | Michael Daly | November 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In truth, it was so intently engaged with a sleeping seal that it had not observed the approach of the sledge.
The Giant of the North | R.M. BallantyneWith this I will end this letter, leaving it in this state until it is time to seal it, in case anything should occur to be added.
On breaking the seal, a letter at the top of a bundle of papers presented itself.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterRichard Cromwell's parliament dissolved by commission under the great seal, at the instance of Desborough.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellGo, young man, and tell the tree to come hither, and the tree will obey you when you show it my seal.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | Various
British Dictionary definitions for seal (1 of 2)
/ (siːl) /
a device impressed on a piece of wax, moist clay, etc, fixed to a letter, document, etc, as a mark of authentication
a stamp, ring, etc, engraved with a device to form such an impression
a substance, esp wax, so placed over an envelope, document, etc, that it must be broken before the object can be opened or used
any substance or device used to close or fasten tightly
a material, such as putty or cement, that is used to close an opening to prevent the passage of air, water, etc
a small amount of water contained in the trap of a drain to prevent the passage of foul smells
an agent or device for keeping something hidden or secret
anything that gives a pledge or confirmation
a decorative stamp often sold in aid of charity
Also called: seal of confession RC Church the obligation never to reveal anything said by a penitent in confession
set one's seal on or set one's seal to
to mark with one's sign or seal
to endorse
to affix a seal to, as proof of authenticity
to stamp with or as if with a seal
to approve or authorize
(sometimes foll by up) to close or secure with or as if with a seal: to seal one's lips; seal up a letter
(foll by off) to enclose (a place) with a fence, wall, etc
to decide irrevocably
Mormon Church to make (a marriage or adoption) perpetually binding
to subject (the outside of meat, etc) to fierce heat so as to retain the juices during cooking
to close tightly so as to render airtight or watertight
to paint (a porous material) with a nonporous coating
Australian and NZ to consolidate (a road surface) with bitumen, tar, etc
Origin of seal
1Derived forms of seal
- sealable, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for seal (2 of 2)
/ (siːl) /
any pinniped mammal of the families Otariidae (eared seals) and Phocidae (earless seals) that are aquatic but come on shore to breed: See eared seal, earless seal Related adjectives: otarid, phocine
any earless seal (family Phocidae), esp the common or harbour seal or the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
sealskin
(intr) to hunt for seals
Origin of seal
2Derived forms of seal
- seal-like, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for seal
[ sēl ]
Any of various aquatic carnivorous mammals of the families Phocidae and Otariidae, having a sleek, torpedo-shaped body and limbs that are modified into paddlelike flippers. Seals live chiefly in the Northern Hemisphere and, like walruses, are pinnipeds.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with seal
In addition to the idioms beginning with seal
- seal of approval
- seal off
- seal one's fate
also see:
- lips are sealed
- set one's seal on
- signed, sealed and delivered
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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