sail

Plural: sails

Noun

• a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
• an ocean trip taken for pleasure
• any structure that resembles a sail
• A piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along. The sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes.
• The concept of a sail or sails, as if a substance.
• The power harnessed by a sail or sails, or the use of this power for travel or transport.
• A trip in a boat, especially a sailboat.
• A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
• The conning tower of a submarine.
• The blade of a windmill.
• A tower-like structure found on the dorsal (topside) surface of submarines.
• The floating organ of siphonophores, such as the Portuguese man-of-war.
• A sailfish.
• an outward projection of the spine, occurring in certain dinosaurs and synapsids
• Anything resembling a sail, such as a wing.

Verb

Verb Forms: sailed, sailing, sails

• To travel across water in a boat powered by wind or engine.
• traverse or travel on (a body of water)
  • "We sailed the Atlantic"
  • "He sailed the Pacific all alone"
• move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions
  • "Shreds of paper sailed through the air"
• travel on water propelled by wind
  • "I love sailing, especially on the open sea"
  • "the ship sails on"
• travel on water propelled by wind or by other means
  • "The QE2 will sail to Southampton tomorrow"
• To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by steam or other power.
• To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a waterfowl.
• To ride in a boat, especially a sailboat.
• To set sail; to begin a voyage.
• To move briskly and gracefully through the air.
• To move briskly but sedately.
• To deal out (cards) from a distance by impelling them across a surface.

Examples

• His well-planned word choice allowed his score to sail past his opponent’s.
• Let's go for a sail.
• Take in sail: a storm is coming.
• The duchess sailed haughtily out of the room.
• Twenty sail were in sight.
• We caught three sails today.
• We sail for Australia tomorrow.

Synonyms

canvas, canvass, cruise, navigate, sheet, sweep, voyage, sail

Related Words

W:Parts of a sail, W:Template:Sail Types, SAILABLE

Anagrams of sail