sea

[ see ]
See synonyms for: seaseaerseaest on Thesaurus.com

noun
  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.

  1. one of the seven seas; ocean.

  2. a large lake or landlocked body of water.

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

  4. the waves.

  5. a large wave: The heavy seas almost drowned us.

  6. a widely extended, copious, or overwhelming quantity: a sea of faces; a sea of troubles.

  7. the work, travel, and shipboard life of a sailor: The sea is a hard life but a rewarding one.

  8. Astronomy. mare3.

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

Idioms about sea

  1. at sea, : Also asea.

    • on the ocean.

    • perplexed; uncertain: completely at sea as to how to answer the question.

  2. follow the sea, to pursue a nautical career: Many boys then dreamed of following the sea.

  1. go to sea,

    • to set out on a voyage.

    • to embark on a nautical career.

  2. half seas over, Slang. partly or completely drunk: They came home at dawn, looking half seas over.: Also half-seas over.

  3. put to sea, to embark on a sea voyage: The expedition is nearly ready to put to sea.: Also put out to sea.

Origin of sea

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English see, Old English sǣ; cognate with Dutch zee, German See, Old Norse sær “sea,” Gothic saiws “marsh”

Other words for sea

Words Nearby sea

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sea in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sea

sea

/ (siː) /


noun
    • the sea the mass of salt water on the earth's surface as differentiated from the land: Related adjectives: marine, maritime, thalassic

    • (as modifier): sea air

  1. (capital when part of place name)

    • one of the smaller areas of ocean: the Irish Sea

    • a large inland area of water: the Caspian Sea

  1. turbulence or swell, esp of considerable size: heavy seas

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

  3. anything resembling the sea in size or apparent limitlessness

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

  5. at sea

    • on the ocean

    • in a state of confusion

  6. go to sea to become a sailor

  7. put to sea or put out to sea to embark on a sea voyage

Origin of sea

1
Old English sǣ; related to Old Norse sǣr, Old Frisian sē, Gothic saiws, Old High German sēo

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 sea

sea

[ ]


  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. See Note at ocean.

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

  2. Astronomy A mare.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with sea

sea

In addition to the idiom beginning with sea

  • sea legs
  • seal of approval
  • seal off
  • seal one's fate

also see:

  • 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)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.