# sail

Pronunciation: say "SAYL" /seɪl/

## Noun

1. A piece of fabric fixed to a boat and arranged so the wind drives the boat along, usually held up by a mast, spars, and ropes.
   - Simple: A large piece of cloth on a boat that catches the wind to push it along.
   - _A sudden gust tore the sail loose from its rigging._
   - _The crew trimmed the sails to catch the shifting breeze._
4. A journey or outing made in a boat, especially a sailboat.
   - Simple: A trip taken in a boat, especially one with sails.
   - _A short sail across the harbor cleared her head._
   - _They planned a long sail down the coast for their vacation._
9. One of the broad blades or vanes of a windmill, which the wind pushes to turn the mill.
   - Simple: One of the flat arms on a windmill that the wind pushes to make it turn.
   - _A torn sail hung limp against the side of the windmill._
   - _The miller repaired the canvas on each of the windmill's sails._
10. Something that resembles a sail in shape or function, such as a wing or a fin.
   - Simple: A part shaped like a sail, such as a wing or a fin.
   - _The flying squirrel spread a furry sail of skin and glided to the next tree._
   - _Engineers shaped the drone's broad sail to mimic a gull's wing._
11. The driving power captured by sails, or the use of that power to travel or carry goods over water.
   - Simple: The pushing power that wind gives a boat through its sails, used to move it.
   - _The clipper made the entire voyage under sail, never once starting her engine._
   - _Before steam, all long-distance trade moved by sail across the oceans._
12. A large, fast-swimming marine fish (the sailfish) recognized by its tall, sail-like dorsal fin.
   - Simple: A large ocean fish with a tall fin on its back, prized by sport fishers.
   - _The charter captain promised we would hook a sail off the reef by noon._
   - _A sail can grow longer than an adult and swim in fast bursts to catch prey._
13. A tower-like structure rising from the dorsal, or topside, surface of a submarine.
   - Simple: The tall tower on the top of a submarine that sticks up above the hull.
   - _Officers stood atop the sail as the submarine cruised on the surface._
   - _The boat's sail housed the periscopes and several antennas._
14. The conning tower of a submarine, the raised structure from which it is steered and watched.
   - Simple: The raised control tower on a submarine, where officers steer and watch the sea.
   - _The lookout scanned the horizon from the open hatch atop the sail._
   - _The submarine's sail was barely visible above the choppy water._
15. An outward projection of the spine forming a tall ridge along the back, found in certain dinosaurs and synapsids.
   - Simple: A tall, fin-like growth along the back of some extinct animals, held up by long spine bones.
   - _Spinosaurus carried a tall sail supported by greatly elongated backbone spines._
   - _Researchers debate whether the sail of Dimetrodon controlled body heat or served as display._
16. The gas-filled floating organ of siphonophores such as the Portuguese man-of-war, which buoys the colony at the sea surface.
   - Simple: The gas-filled part of a jellyfish-like sea creature that floats on top and catches the wind.
   - _The translucent sail of a Portuguese man-of-war kept the colony riding the surface currents._
   - _Caught by a strong breeze, the sail carried the whole animal into the shallows._
18. Canvas considered collectively as a single material rather than as separate sails; the spread of sailcloth a vessel carries.
   - Simple: The cloth used to catch wind on a boat, thought of as a single material rather than separate pieces.
   - _With a storm building, the captain ordered the crew to shorten sail._
   - _The clipper crowded on every yard of sail to reach port before nightfall._

## Verb

2. To travel in a boat, especially a sailboat, as a passenger or crew member.
   - Simple: To travel in a boat, especially one that uses sails.
   - _Every July they sail along the coast in a chartered yacht._
   - _She learned to sail before she could ride a bike._
3. To be driven forward across water by wind acting on the sails, or by steam or another power source.
   - Simple: To move across water when wind pushes against the sails.
   - _Tall ships sail best with a steady wind behind them._
   - _The modern ferry sails on diesel power rather than wind._
5. To set out on a voyage by boat; to begin a journey across water.
   - Simple: To begin a trip by boat across the water.
   - _The explorers sail at first light, weather permitting._
   - _Her ship sailed from Lisbon in early spring._
6. To travel through the air quickly and with grace, as a thrown disc or an arrow does.
   - Simple: To move quickly and smoothly through the air.
   - _Watch the arrows sail toward the distant target._
   - _The frisbee sailed gracefully across the park._
7. To move briskly yet calmly, with a smooth and dignified manner.
   - Simple: To move in a smooth, confident, and steady way.
   - _The duchess sailed across the ballroom, greeting no one._
   - _He can sail through any crowd without seeming to rush._
8. To move through or across the water, as a fish swims or a waterfowl glides.
   - Simple: To move through or on top of the water, as a fish or duck does.
   - _Ducks sail smoothly over the still lake at dawn._
   - _A lone swan sailed past the reeds._
19. To deal cards by sending them gliding across a surface from a distance.
   - Simple: To slide a playing card across a table toward someone, sending it from a distance.
   - _The dealer sailed the top card down the length of the felt to the last seat._
   - _Skilled croupiers can sail a card the full width of the table without flipping it._

## Noun

17. A vessel of any kind, especially a sailing ship; a craft, often counted as one of a fleet. *(dated)*
   - Simple: A ship or boat, especially when counted as one of a group of vessels.
   - _The admiral commanded a fleet of forty sail off the coast._
   - _Lookouts sighted a strange sail bearing down on the convoy._

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 4, 9–18** — From Middle English saile, from Old English seġl, from Proto-West Germanic *segl and Proto-Germanic *seglą. It is related to Dutch zeil, German Segel, Danish sejl, and Swedish segel.
**Meanings 2–3, 5–8, 19** — From Middle English sailen, from Old English seġlan or siġlan ("to sail"), from Proto-West Germanic *siglijan. It is related to Dutch zeilen, German segeln, Danish sejle, and Icelandic sigla.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/sail (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).