sail

[ seyl ]

noun

1. an area of canvas or other fabric extended to the wind in such a way as to transmit the force of the wind to an assemblage of spars and rigging mounted firmly on a hull, raft, iceboat, etc., so as to drive it along.
2. some similar piece or apparatus, as the part of an arm that catches the wind on a windmill.
3. a voyage or excursion, especially in a sailing vessel:

   They went for a sail around the island.

4. a sailing vessel or ship.
5. sailing vessels collectively:

   The fleet numbered 30 sail.

6. sails for a vessel or vessels collectively.
7. Sail, Astronomy. the constellation Vela.

verb (used without object)

1. to move along or travel over water:

   steamships sailing to Lisbon.

2. to manage a sailboat, especially for sport.
3. to begin a journey by water:

   We are sailing at dawn.

4. to move along in a manner suggestive of a sailing vessel:

   caravans sailing along.

5. to move along in a stately, effortless way:

   to sail into a room.

verb (used with object)

1. to sail upon, over, or through:

   to sail the seven seas.

2. to navigate (a vessel).

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to go vigorously into action; begin to act; attack.
   2. to attack verbally:

      He would sail into his staff when work was going badly.

sail

/ seɪl /

noun

1. 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. a voyage on such a vessel

   a sail down the river

3. a vessel with sails or such vessels collectively

   we raised seven sail in the northeast

   to travel by sail

4. 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. the conning tower of a submarine
7. in sail
   in sail having the sail set
8. make sail
   make sail
   1. to run up the sail or to run up more sail
   2. to begin a voyage
9. set sail
   set sail
   1. to embark on a voyage by ship
   2. to hoist sail
10. under sail
    under sail
    1. with sail hoisted
    2. under way

verb

1. to travel in a boat or ship

   we sailed to Le Havre

2. to begin a voyage; set sail

   we sail at 5 o'clock

3. (of a vessel) to move over the water

   the liner is sailing to the Caribbean

4. tr to manoeuvre or navigate a vessel

   he sailed the schooner up the channel

5. tr to sail over

   she sailed the Atlantic single-handed

6. often foll byover, through, etc to move fast or effortlessly

   the ball sailed over the fence

   we sailed through customs

7. to move along smoothly; glide
8. informal.
   often foll byin or into
   1. to begin (something) with vigour
   2. to make an attack (on) violently with words or physical force

Derived Forms

• ˈsailable, adjective
• ˈsailless, adjective

Other Words From

• saila·ble adjective
• sailless adjective
• un·saila·ble adjective
• un·sailed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sail¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English sail(e), seille, Old English segl; cognate with German Segel, Old Norse segl; (verb) Middle English seillen, saylen, Old English siglan, seglian; cognate with Dutch zeilen, Old Norse sigla

Word History and Origins

Origin of sail¹

Old English segl; related to Old Frisian seil, Old Norse segl, German Segel

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in sail, with the sails set.
2. make sail, Nautical.
   1. to set the sail or sails of a boat or increase the amount of sail already set.
   2. to set out on a voyage:

      Make sail for the Leeward Islands.

3. set sail, to start a sea voyage:

   We set sail at midnight for Nantucket.

4. trim one's sails, Informal. to cut expenses; economize:

   We're going to have to trim our sails if we stay in business.

5. under sail, with sails set; in motion; sailing:

   It was good to be under sail in the brisk wind and under the warm sun.

More idioms and phrases containing sail

• (sail under) false colors
• plain sailing
• set sail
• smooth sailing
• take the wind out of one's sails
• trim one's sails

Example Sentences

Aspiring doctors have the wind taken out of their sails in a tough organic chemistry class.

From Quartz

A small gap exists between neurons, so to get to the other side, the electrical signals generally need to be converted into little bubble ships, packed with chemicals, and set sail to the other neuronal shore.

From Singularity Hub 

Just like your sailboat’s not going anywhere fast without a sail, your content isn’t going to help you reach your goals if people can’t find it.

From Search Engine Watch

Content marketing and SEO are like a sailboat and its sail, they need each other.

From Search Engine Watch

In essence, the carrack eschewed any form of oar-based system, instead entirely relying on sails.

From Realm of History

Some refugees wait for days on the ships before setting sail.

From The Daily Beast

They get $8 million to dredge the channel for pleasure boats to sail to Catalina Island.

From The Daily Beast

Then they set sail for open water, where they were assured someone would rescue them.

From The Daily Beast

On August 22, some 88 ships set sail for the southern point of Brooklyn allowing more than 22,000 troops to begin their attack.

From The Daily Beast

The turbulent waters caused one of his oars to crack, which—without a motor or a sail—can be severely detrimental to his voyage.

From The Daily Beast

A lateen sail was visible in the direction of Cat Island, and others to the south seemed almost motionless in the far distance.

From Project Gutenberg

Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and when we hear with our ears, we shall admire.

From Project Gutenberg

As it came near, it proved to be the clock, with a sail hoisted, and the Goblin sitting complacently in the stern.

From Project Gutenberg

That argument was not the one of least weight in the council in determining that our fleet should not sail against the enemy.

From Project Gutenberg

Accordingly, as soon as they saw our Priests they refused outright to let the ship sail if the Jesuits were to embark in it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cross
• cruise
• drift
• float
• fly
• leave
• move
• navigate
• reach
• run
• shoot
• skim
• soar
• steer
• sweep