sail
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.
some similar piece or apparatus, as the part of an arm that catches the wind on a windmill.
a voyage or excursion, especially in a sailing vessel: They went for a sail around the island.
a sailing vessel or ship.
sailing vessels collectively: The fleet numbered 30 sail.
sails for a vessel or vessels collectively.
Sail, Astronomy. the constellation Vela.
to move along or travel over water: steamships sailing to Lisbon.
to manage a sailboat, especially for sport.
to begin a journey by water: We are sailing at dawn.
to move along in a manner suggestive of a sailing vessel: caravans sailing along.
to move along in a stately, effortless way: to sail into a room.
to sail upon, over, or through: to sail the seven seas.
to navigate (a vessel).
sail in / into Informal.
to go vigorously into action; begin to act; attack.
to attack verbally: He would sail into his staff when work was going badly.
Idioms about sail
in sail, with the sails set.
make sail, Nautical.
to set the sail or sails of a boat or increase the amount of sail already set.
to set out on a voyage: Make sail for the Leeward Islands.
set sail, to start a sea voyage: We set sail at midnight for Nantucket.
trim one's sails, Informal. to cut expenses; economize: We're going to have to trim our sails if we stay in business.
under sail, with sails set; in motion; sailing: It was good to be under sail in the brisk wind and under the warm sun.
Origin of sail
1Other words from sail
- sail·a·ble, adjective
- sailless, adjective
- un·sail·a·ble, adjective
- un·sailed, adjective
Words Nearby sail
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use sail in a sentence
Aspiring doctors have the wind taken out of their sails in a tough organic chemistry class.
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.
Scientists Used Dopamine to Seamlessly Merge Artificial and Biological Neurons | Shelly Fan | June 23, 2020 | Singularity HubJust 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.
Content creation guide: How to effectively think of SEO at every stage | Kelsey Raymond | June 19, 2020 | Search Engine WatchContent marketing and SEO are like a sailboat and its sail, they need each other.
Content creation guide: How to effectively think of SEO at every stage | Kelsey Raymond | June 19, 2020 | Search Engine WatchIn essence, the carrack eschewed any form of oar-based system, instead entirely relying on sails.
Know Your Historical Warships: From 7th Century BC – 17th Century AD | Dattatreya Mandal | April 4, 2020 | Realm of History
Some refugees wait for days on the ships before setting sail.
They get $8 million to dredge the channel for pleasure boats to sail to Catalina Island.
Then they set sail for open water, where they were assured someone would rescue them.
Inside the Smuggling Networks Flooding Europe with Refugees | Barbie Latza Nadeau | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOn August 22, some 88 ships set sail for the southern point of Brooklyn allowing more than 22,000 troops to begin their attack.
The British Royals Reinvade Brooklyn: William and Kate Come Watch Basketball on Historic Battle Site | Justin Jones | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe turbulent waters caused one of his oars to crack, which—without a motor or a sail—can be severely detrimental to his voyage.
Victor Mooney’s Epic Adventure for His Dead Brother | Justin Jones | October 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA lateen sail was visible in the direction of Cat Island, and others to the south seemed almost motionless in the far distance.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinLet them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and when we hear with our ears, we shall admire.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousAs it came near, it proved to be the clock, with a sail hoisted, and the Goblin sitting complacently in the stern.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylThat argument was not the one of least weight in the council in determining that our fleet should not sail against the enemy.
Accordingly, as soon as they saw our Priests they refused outright to let the ship sail if the Jesuits were to embark in it.
British Dictionary definitions for sail
/ (seɪl) /
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
a voyage on such a vessel: a sail down the river
a vessel with sails or such vessels collectively: to travel by sail; we raised seven sail in the northeast
a ship's sails collectively
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
the conning tower of a submarine
in sail having the sail set
make sail
to run up the sail or to run up more sail
to begin a voyage
set sail
to embark on a voyage by ship
to hoist sail
under sail
with sail hoisted
under way
to travel in a boat or ship: we sailed to Le Havre
to begin a voyage; set sail: we sail at 5 o'clock
(of a vessel) to move over the water: the liner is sailing to the Caribbean
(tr) to manoeuvre or navigate a vessel: he sailed the schooner up the channel
(tr) to sail over: she sailed the Atlantic single-handed
(often foll by over, through, etc) to move fast or effortlessly: we sailed through customs; the ball sailed over the fence
to move along smoothly; glide
(often foll by in or into) informal
to begin (something) with vigour
to make an attack (on) violently with words or physical force
Origin of sail
1Derived forms of sail
- sailable, adjective
- sailless, 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
Other Idioms and Phrases with sail
In addition to the idioms beginning with sail
- sail close to the wind
- sail into
- sail through
- sail under false colors
also see:
- (sail under) false colors
- plain sailing
- set sail
- smooth sailing
- take the wind out of one's sails
- trim one's sails
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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